Makurdi — At least 300,000 Nigerians die annually from HIV/AIDS while more than 1.5 million children are reportedly orphaned yearly by the virus, Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) Dr. Ado Mohammad said.
Mohammed, who spoke in Makurdi yesterday said the statistics is worrisome, and that steps must be taken to stem the tide.
The director spoke at the opening ceremony of Integrated Service Delivery Training for com-munity health workers, organized by the Program for HIV/AIDS Integration and Decentralization (PHAID) in Makurdi.
"HIV/AIDS continues to be a major burden in our country, with well over 1.5million children orphaned annually by the virus which also claims over 300,000 Nigerian lives yearly," he said.
Represented by Dr. Bakunawa Bello, the NPHDA executive director added, "The devastation and danger posed by the virus in our country calls for concerted efforts by all Nigerians including health workers".
He said the inherent challenge in combating the scourge informed the various strategic trainings and programmes initiated by the NPHDA in states across the country.
Earlier, the PHAID project training officer in the state Hyeladzirah Shalangwa noted that the training programme which is in five phases is intended to further equip healthcare providers with the wherewithal to provide one stop shop services to victims of HIV/AIDS in all parts of Benue State.
