The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has inaugurated 42 Local Government Coordinators under the Healthy Living HIV Control Initiative (HLHCI) to strengthen grassroots HIV awareness and prevention efforts across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The inauguration, held in Awka, forms part of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency’s (ANSACA) strategy to achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030.
Speaking at the event, ANSACA Executive Director, Dr. Nkem Okeke, emphasized the importance of regular testing, ending stigma against people living with HIV, and increasing public awareness. He noted that Anambra currently records the highest HIV prevalence rate in the South-East and ranks fifth nationally, with a prevalence rate of 2.4 percent.
Dr. Okeke explained that the initiative leverages the existing Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo platform to expand HIV sensitization campaigns to communities across the state. He also disclosed plans to empower people living with HIV through skill acquisition programmes and called for greater support from private organizations and development partners.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, Mrs. Soludo urged the newly inaugurated coordinators to remain committed to the campaign and encouraged residents to take advantage of free HIV testing and health insurance registration available for people living with HIV.
She further revealed that Anambra is among eight states selected to benefit from a pilot HIV preventive injection programme, which will be provided free of charge when fully rolled out.
The event featured the signing of a “Zero New HIV Infection by 2030 Commitment Charter,” oath-taking by the coordinators, and goodwill messages from development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
