…as FG sets up three oxygen plants in the state
The Director-General of the National AIDS Control Agency (NACA), Temitope Ilori, has commended Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu for his strategic initiatives in tackling HIV/AIDS in the state.
Ilori gave the commendation during an interactive meeting with implementing partners, civil society organizations and other stakeholders at the Cross River State Agency for AIDS Control (CR-SACA) in Calabar.
He expressed appreciation for the integration of persons living with HIV/AIDS into the state's health insurance scheme, but stressed that local production of ARVs must follow appropriate certification standards.
Ilori said, “We are pleased with Governor Otu's tireless efforts in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially his policy of including people living with AIDS into the health insurance scheme, which provides them with a sense of belonging.”
Responding to the cut in funding, he disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved US$200 million to maintain service continuity for essential health commodities, adding that with global support, NACA has established an operational 10,000-litre oxygen plant at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital along with three other plants in Ikom and Ogoja to ensure that the state is fully covered for all kinds of emergency situations.
He also announced plans by the federal government to produce ARVs and other essential items locally by early 2026 to ensure sustainability in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Director-General revealed that World AIDS Day 2025 will focus on sustaining national responses amid disruptions, reinforcing the need for government investment at all levels.
Speaking on behalf of the implementing partners, Uwana, State Coordinator of the Excellent Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), acknowledged the supportive environment created by the State, noting reaching out to over 38,000 individuals with their operations and treatment across 64 facilities.
The Director General later symbolically inaugurated a condom dispenser unit installed at the entrance of CR-SACA, strategically placed across the metropolis and urged the targeted population to utilize the free services, which he described as part of the effort to curb the spread of HIV in the state.
