HIV/AIDS prevalence rate?has dropped from over three per cent to two per cent in Katsina State, the?Executive Secretary of the?Katsina State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr Muntari Hassan, has revealed.
Hassan made the revelation on Thursday in Katsina when members of the state's Youth Coalition Against AIDS, Drugs and Violence called on him in Katsina.
He said that the reduction of the infection was achieved through continuous public enlightenment and sensitisation by the agency and some non governmental bodies.
Hassan?noted that the assistance being provided by?various counselling and testing centres had also facilitated the reduction of the infection in the state.
“In 2008, there were only nine counselling and testing centres in the state but now the number of such centres had increased to 52.”
The secretary said that SACA was making contacts with the state's Ministry of Justice toward establishing an anti-stigmatisation bill that would address the problem of stigma and discrimination against?HIV/AIDS victims in the state.
Hassan expressed the agency’s readiness to provide?technical assistance to the coalition in fighting the menace of HIV/AIDS in the state.
The Coordinator of the coalition, Mr Suleiman Salisu, said the objective of the association was to sensitise the public on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and violence.
He solicited?the support of the agency?to enable the coalition achieve its set goals. (NAN).