Combating HIV/AIDS Disease
SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF NASARAWA STATE, ALH. (DR.) ABDULLAHI ADAMU (SARKIN YAKIN KEFFI), AT THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE STATE LEVEL TRAINING WORKSHOP ON HIV/AIDS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS AND TEACHERS IN NASARAWA STATE, HELD AT THE IBRAHIM ABACHA YOUTH CENTRE, ON WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL, 2004
The Deputy Governor;
The Hon. Speaker;
Principal Officers and Hon. Members;
My Lord, the Chief Judge;
The Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal;
The President, Customary Court of Appeal;
Members of the State Executive and Security Councils;
Special Advisers;
The Secretary to the State Government;
The Head of Civil Service;
Permanent Secretaries;
The National Coordinator, Universal Basic Education Programme;
World Bank Representative and Officials;
The Ag. Chairman, Nasarawa State Primary Education Board;
Chief Executives of Commissions, Boards and Parastatals;
Chairmen of Local Government Councils;
Traditional Rulers;
Resources Persons and Participants;
Members of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my pleasure to address you at this occasion of the flag-off of the state level training workshop on HIV/AIDS for primary school headmasters and teachers in Nasarawa State. I wish to note from the onset that the timing of this training programme amid the increasing concern over the devastating consequences being wrought on our society by HIV/AIDS could not have been more appropriate.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has thus become a global issue requiring urgent attention. It is therefore a significant turning point in addressing the problem that deliberate efforts are being made to stem the spread of the disease among the most vulnerable segment of the population.
I wish to, therefore, commend the initiative of the UBE Commission and the World Bank in organising this workshop aimed at arresting the scourge of this deadly disease which is daily ravaging our youths between the ages of 15 and 29.
AIDS has become a serious hindrance to the development of our youths; truncating their dream of assuming the leadership of our society and rendering many children orphans even before they have the opportunity of parental care and education.
Presently, statistics indicate that over 11.8 million youths are living with HIV or AIDS worldwide and about six young people are infected with the virus that causes AIDS every minute.
The number of young people living with HIV or AIDS in Africa is about 8.8 million and statistics also show that about 2.3 million children and adults respectively, died of AIDS last year in Africa. Without doubt, this scenario paints a grim picture for the future of our countinet.
In like manner, statistics on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria already depict a very worrisome situation. Our country currently ranks second only behind India with the highest number of HIV/AIDS infected persons. This sad development is gradually overstretching the healthcare system in our country, with the attendant consequences on the economic and social sectors of the economy. We must therefore, all join hands in the fight against the scourge.
However, as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned, prevention remains the only option because a conclusive treatment regime has not been discovered for the scourge.
It is in this regard that I would like to commend the Federal Government through the National Action Committee on AIDS for leading the fight against the killer disease.
On our part, the State Government has evolved strategies aimed at combating the spread of the disease. We have since set up an Action Committee charged with the responsibility of educating the citizenry on HIV/AIDS, apart from other measures aimed at stemming the spread of the disease. In this regard, I wish to note with delight the impressive role which the State Ministry of Health has been playing in our enlightenment effort. I assure you that everything will be done within our capacity and resources to prosecute the programme to the end.
As a matter of fact, the UBE/World Bank – sponsored awareness campaign targeted at the primary school sub-sector fits perfectly with our programme of public awareness of the disease.
Nevertheless, I would like to invite other stakeholders such as NGOs, traditional rulers, community-based development associations, religious bodies and individuals and groups to join hands with the Government in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge.
The State Primary Education Board is hereby directed to ensure the setting up of HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign Clubs in all the 1,072 primary schools in the State. Local Government Education Authorities are to oversee the operations and effectiveness of these clubs.
To the participants at this workshop, I urge you to be attentive and to utilise the knowledge you are going to acquire for the betterment of the future of our children and the nation.
While wishing you very fruitful deliberations, it is my privilege to declare the State level Training Workshop on HIV/AIDS for primary school headmasters and teachers in Nasarawa State open.
Thank you and God bless.
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