Akwa Ibom government has pledged to partner with the United States in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases in the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel gave the pledge when he received the US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington in his office in Uyo, the state capital.
Akwa Ibom is reported to be ranked among the states with the highest prevalence rate of HIV/ AIDS in the country, tough the ranking is disputed by the state government.
Currently, a top official of the state agency on the prevention of the disease is facing charges for alleged corruption and embezzlement of funds meant for HIV/AIDS programme.
Over N30 million is believed to have been misappropriated in the campaign against the disease in the state.
The governor who also expressed his administration’s readiness to partner the United States in healthcare and other developments efforts aimed at making life meaningful to humanity said his administration has invested so
much to transform the healthcare delivery system in the state adding that no purpose driven government can talk about human capital development without a functional health care system.
He thanked the US and its development agencies for their vision to partner the state in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, promising to ensure that the state, and neigbouring communities who interface with the state in commercial activities, actively participate in the drive.
“As a border state in the coastal region, there is an influx of people from other states and countries to transact in various opportunities, like fishing and other ventures, so we will partner with the US Government to meet this target you have set.”
He stated the need for accountability, accuracy and transparency in the records and expenditure of funds allotted for the programme, promising to set an effective machinery to ensure a success of the programme.
He also urged the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to collaborate with health personnel in the state and expressed the hope that with the health care facilities on ground, Akwa Ibom best suits the pilot scheme and thanked the United States for the choice of the state for the program.
He expressed dismay at the report that over 30 billion dollars had been spent in the fight against the HIV/AIDS programme in the state recently without any verifiable records, nor input from the relevant agencies in the state.
“I would like to be shown the hospital where such facilities where donated, or the equipment that where procured, because no one has shown me any such intervention”, he added.
In his remarks, Symington said the visit which is his last as the US ambassador to Nigeria was to intimate the government and people of the state of the United States contributions to stem the HIV/ AIDS pandemic and to provide necessary assistance to those who are infected through the provision of drugs, equipment and personnel to help humanity.
“All the amenities, the good roads, the new industries and the schools I have seen, will not be appreciated if the people are not healthy to make use of them.”
He sued for collaboration to stem the tide of the HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, pledging his government’s readiness to partner the state in Education, Healthcare, Agriculture and Commerce.
