IHS Towers, a leading global provider of Telecom infrastructure has donated 75,300 HIV rapid test kits valued at $71,000 to Kebbi State Government.
The donation which came through
United States Agency for International Development
USAID was presented to the State Deputy Governor on behalf of the Governor during a colourful ceremony held at Central Medical Store Complex, Birnin Kebbi this Tuesday.
The contribution from IHS Towers will strengthen the ongoing efforts by the United States Government in Kebbi State to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Cima Shalotan, the representative of IHS Towers who spoke online said the donation of 75,000 HIV rapid test kits was part of effort to strengthening capacity to eliminate HIV/ AIDS in Kebbi State as part of the company’s corporate social service.
According to her, the telecom company which has infrastructure in over 11 countries in the world with 7 in Africa including Nigeria represents the largest independent Tower operator in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
‘ We are the company that provides Telecom mast ,we are in every state in Nigeria .
‘ We always ensure that we support, we partner, we collaborate and give back to our operating environment or host country.
‘ Our first intervention in Nigeria, we donated 70,000 HIV/AIDs test kits to Bayelsa State in 2020.
She stressed the need to work together against HIV AIDs so as to eliminate the menace and also eradicate mother to child transmission which according to her is still a big challenge in Nigeria.
She thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and all development partners for their role in the fight against AIDs.
The USAID/Nigeria Deputy Director HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Office, Omosalewa Oyelaran who also delivered her address virtually,
said the United States Agency for International Development, USAID partnered Kebbi State to support the fight against the dreaded disease, HIV/AIDs.
The agency was in collaboration with Nigeria since 2003 through Ministry of Health and States Agency for the Control of AIDs to rapidly achieve epidemic control of the disease, she said.
‘ we are contributing to sustainable frame work on HIV/AIDs in Nigeria, we take pride in the program and other health programs.
‘ In Kebbi State the donation will go along way in assisting the State and supporting its capacity to eradicate the disease.
‘ In contribution to efforts in ending the HIV epidemic and as part of private sector engagement
in Nigeria’s health sector, IHS Towers donated 75,300 sets of HIV rapid test kits valued at $71,000 to Kebbi State Government through USAID. The contribution from IHS Towers will strengthen ongoing efforts by the United States Government in Kebbi State to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic ‘, she averred.
She further said the test kits would support the
prevention of mother-to-child transmission services within antenatal clinics and provide critical HIV testing
services to numerous young children and others who are at risk.
Omosalewa Oyelaran added that the United States Government, through USAID, provided lifesaving antiretroviral medicines to 691,000
Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
‘ In Kebbi State, USAID through the Accelerating Control of the HIV
Epidemic in Nigeria Project provides antiretroviral medicines to more than 16,400 adults and over 640 children.
The Kebbi State Governor Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON represented by his
Deputy, Rtd Col Samaila Yombe Dabai expressed immense happiness over the donation of the HIV rapid test kits to the State by IHS Towers through USAID.
He said with Nigeria having over 1.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS, the country still remains significant contributor to the global HIV pandemic and of the 4.8 million people of the state, about 23,834 are living with HIV.
The governor said that the donation would effectively manage the transmission of HIV from mother to child ,thereby reduce HIV/AIDs incidences in the State .
He once again thanked IHS Towers and USAID and other donor agencies.
‘ This event is important to the State because it demonstrates our collective efforts to encourage equal access to treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDs in the state.
‘ I like to declare our continuous collaboration and commitment to working with USAID and other implementing partners in the state to improve access to quality healthcare for the people of Kebbi State’, he assured.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Hon Jafar Muhammad thanked the IHS Towers and USAID for the donation.
He assured the donors that the HIV rapid test kits would significantly go along way in supporting the State towards eliminating HIV/AIDs.
The Secretary to the State Government SSG Babale Umar Yauri was among the important personalities who attended the ceremony.
