Gombe State commissioner for health, Dr Habu Dahiru has disclosed that there is an alarming high Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection among boys and girls aged 15 to 24 years.
He revealed this while addressing journalists on the commemoration of the 2022 World AIDS day at the state ministry of health headquarters on Thursday.
He informed that, there are about 43, 000 living with the HIV virus in the state adding that the rate of mother to child transmission is also still high.
He said, “We noticed that the rate of new infections in the state is currently particularly high among young individuals aged 15 to 24, with girls being particularly vulnerable. Women as a whole, remain disproportionately affected by HIV.
“While best practices from around the world have revealed that for Gombe State to control her epidemic(s), the response must quickly identify every person living with the virus, link, and care for them and keep them in care until the virus is suppressed thereby interrupting further transmission and controlling the epidemic”.
Dr Dahiru however noted that the state has made considerable progress in combating HIV by reducing the prevalence from 5.8 percent in 2006 to 1.2 percent in 2021.
The commissioner advised stakeholders to continue to spread knowledge about ways to avoid being infected with HIV through abstinence, being faithful and correct as well as consistent use of condoms.
