HIV/AIDS: Extortion allegation trails retroviral drugs in Delta

Allegations of extortion of carriers of HIV/AIDS has been levelled against dispensers of anti-retroviral drugs dispensers in Delta Hospital Management Board.

Executive Director of Keyenum Immalah, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) on HIV/AIDS, in the state,  Mrs. Faith Nwadishi, alleged that drugs meant to be free for the positive carriers of HIV/AIDS in the state, were in the recent times being dispensed by dispensers at the Hospital Management Board after extorting money from them.

Noting that the Anti-Retro viral drugs were provided free and are allegedly sold to HIV/AIDS patients, Mrs. Nwadishi told our correspondent that measures were being taken with a view to bringing those behind the act to book.

Her words, “We at the NGO level are very concern about the extortion of HIV/AIDS positive carriers by the retro viral drugs dispensers at the State Hospital Management Board and we have written a petition to Governor Okowa to ensure that those behind the act are brought to book.”

Mrs. Nwadishi while stating that prevalence of HIV/AIDS has reduced to 0.7

percent in the State, expressed hopes that a bill for a law to set up an Agency

for the monitoring and control of HIV/AIDS currently at the State House of

Assembly, will be passed into law and assented to by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

on or before 22nd of August, 2016.

According to her, “Delta State remains the only state in the country without

a State HIV/AIDS Agency, it is a global issue that needs serious attention,

we have worked with DELSACA to promote awareness, the essence is to

ensure a reversal of the trend of infection.”

Mrs. Nwadishi, decried the low funds appropriated for girl child education as

serious embarrassment, and hoped that there will urgent funding for the

Agency, adding. “But then as civil societies we are already strategizing on how

to ensure funding for the Agency”.

But in swift reaction, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge

said Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was looking into the petition with a view to

fishing out the culprits at the Health Management Board.