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Executive Secretary of Borno Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (BOSACA) Barkindo Saidu has said 512 new cases of the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) have been recorded in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.
Saidu, who addressed reporters yesterday, said the cases were recorded after voluntary screening conducted in some IDPs’ camps.
Of the 512 cases, two are children, he noted.
“We are currently conducting voluntary HIV/AIDS screening in IDPs’ camps to determine the people’s status, especially those rescued from Boko Haram terrorists.
“As at last week, we have recorded 512 positive cases, among which two are children.
“Currently, 2.4 per cent of the state population are living with HIV/AIDS, which translates to 108,000 persons, going by the record of the National Population Commission.
“But only a tiny portion of these people can access treatment because most anti-retroviral centres have closed.
“Before the insurgency, we had 90 treatment centres in the state, but only 32 are functional today. The rest have been shut due to insurgency,” Saidu said.
He called on the Federal Government and donor agencies to intervene in the situation.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State has deployed 240 officers in 16 IDPs camps to check prostitution.
State Commandant Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, that “240 personnel were deployed in 16 IDPs camps in the state capital to check prostitution among the IDPs.
“You will recall that the command raised the alarm, about five months ago, that some persons were taking advantage of the situation of the IDPs to engage them in prostitution.
“When the alarm was raised, the ugly trend stopped, but I can tell you that they have now shifted their activities to the host communities, where they meet and do all sort of things without fear,” Abdullahi said.
