No fewer than 196 pregnant women in Kaduna State have tested HIV positive, the state government has said.

The State Commissioner for Heath, Dr. Dogo Manya, has disclosed that during the second phase of maternal, newborn and child health week, a total number of 152,063 pregnant women were tested for HIV, out of which 196 tested positive.

He disclosed this while delivering an address at a one day quality stakeholders forum organised by the Kaduna State MNCH Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM) in collaboration with community health and research initiative with the theme; Open Kaduna State Ministry of Health on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Dr. Dogo added that the 196 that were found to be HIV positive were referred for Anti- Retroviral Therapy.

He disclosed that “this has earned the state a UNAIDS award as the best performing state in the country,” adding: “This is the second time the state is being recognised as the best performing state in the country.”

Dogo who disclosed this on Tuesday through Ibrahim Jere a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, also said there was free maternal and child health for pregnant women and children under five years. About 144 primary and secondary health facilities are rendering the services.

He announced that a new agency, Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment was established, saying, when fully functional, will reduce to the minimum the high prevalence of substance abuse.

On tuberculosis and leprosy, he said, there was implementation and sustenance of tuberculosis and leprosy programmes and emergency transport system.

“Over 600 pregnant women in labour were transported free of charge to health facilities.

This programme is in collaboration with MNCH 2 and NURTW and it covered the 23 Local Governments Areas (LGAs) of the state,” Dogo stated.

He further disclosed, under the Global Fund for Malaria, the state has received and distributed 271,262 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets, 57,320, Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits and Anti-malarial drugs to 391 health facilities across the 23 LGAs of the state.

Dogo lamented inadequate cash backing by the state ministry of finance, delay in the release of funds for implementation of activities and inadequate overhead cost. He then recommended adequate and timely cash backing from the Ministry of Finance and adequate overhead cost allocation to the ministry.

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