The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has donated four ambulances to the Kano State Government in appreciation of its efforts towards HIV/AIDS control.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Gambo Gumel, presented the vehicles to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje at the Government House, Kano on Tuesday.
Gumel said the ambulances were acquired through the Global Health System Fund in Geneva to strengthen the health system in the Kano State.
Gumel was represented by the Director of Special Duties, NACA, Alhaji Baidi Mohammed.
He explained that the vehicles which are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities were given in recognition of the state government’s efforts in controlling the spread of HIV in the state.
“NACA wishes to appreciate the efforts of Kano Government in her contribution to making sure HIV and AIDS are no longer a public health threat in Kano.
“We are also commending the state government’s policy of pre-marital HIV test for potential couples before marriage, and this is what we are advocating nationwide,” he explained.
The D-G said: “The 2018 NAIIS survey shows that Kano has HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 0.6 per cent.
“Which as at today, dropped to 0.5 per cent due to Kano Government’s efforts of allocating resources to the state’s State Agencies for the Control of AIDS (SACA) through Kano State Health Trust Fund to carry out HIV/AIDS response and activities.”
The NACA boss added that Kano State benefited from the UN-Basket fund facilitated and coordinated by NACA, where cash and other essential items were given to the indigent and vulnerable during COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
According to him, the agency also empowered 150 vulnerables and indigent persons in Kano State who were trained in different skills.
Gumel added that the beneficiaries were given start-up packs to empower them economically.
Responding, Gov. Ganduje described the receipt of the vehicles as timely, saying it would go a long way in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, said that the state was looking forward to the time when the spread of HIV would be controlled in the country.
He said that the state government under the leadership of Gov. Ganduje had spent a lot in curbing the spread of HIV/ AIDS in the State.
Ganduje commended NACA for the gesture and restated the state government’s commitment toward developing the health care sector.
