From. Sadiq Abubakar Maiduguri
Five Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Maiduguri have tested positive to HIV/AIDS after they were screened for Malaria and HIV/AIDS by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) the Business and Professional Women on Wednesday.
Dr Ismaila Watila the leader of the group stated this in an Interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Watila explained that the five IDPs were part of the 1,000 so far screened by the group. “We are conducting free screening for IDPs on HIV, Malaria and other disease conditions. “The program is being conducted by the Business and professional Women in conjunction with the National Agency for Control of Aids (NACA) and the Sure P,” he said.
Watila said that the object was to find out the health status of the IDPs and prevent disease spread among them.
We started on Monday and so far we have screened over 1,000 out of the 8,000 IDPs in the camp.
“Out of these only five have tested positive to HIV/AIDS,” he said. Watila added that the number represented 0.5 percent of the population of those screened at the camp.
“Statistically, the number appeared insignificant as it represents just about 0.5 percent of those screened.`But as a doctor, I see the number as alarming, because it is a dangerous trend,” he said. Watila added that the affected IDPs had already been counseled and referred for treatment.
“What we do usually is to treat those who tested positive to Malaria and other diseases immediately. `Those who tested positive to HIV/AIDS will be counsel and transferred to the state Specialists Hospital for proper medication,” he said.
Watila said that the team was also conducting enlightment campaigns on the IDPs on the need to maintain a healthy living. “We also conduct education campaigns on the IDPs to enlighten them on how to play safe.The whole thing is to reduce the prevalence of disease condition in the camps,” he said. Watila said that the group decided to flag off the program at the NYSC Camp because it wasd the largest IDP camp in the state. “We started in the NYSC Camp because it is the largest out of the seven IDP camp in Maiduguri. We are trying to ensure that the IDPs remain healthy in life even after they return home,” he said
