By Ubong George/Makurdi
About eighty per cent of patients at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, have been confirmed to be suffering from HIV /AIDS related cases.
This worrisome position was disclosed by Dr. Matthias Oyigega, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre , Makurdi, when he led management staff of the centre on a courtesy call on the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Terseer Tsumba
Dr. Oyigega explained that the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases at the hospital had grossly affected other patients who need medical attention thereby compelling the management to establish auxiliary wards to take care of such patients
He disclosed that currently the centre has about 100,000 HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving treatment with only 20,000 of them receiving complete free treatment as required, while the remaining 80,000 only access free drugs and laboratory tests, but will have to foot the bills in case of any breakdown.
The medical director revealed that with such high cases of HIV/AIDS at the centre, coupled with other medical needs of the people , facilities at the hospital have been overstretched.
He stated that the only way out is to explore ways of expanding services at the permanent site, that as it is now, it will be difficult as a lot of funding is needed and that federal government alone cannot cope with such scope of funding.
While noting that the Federal Medical Centre was inhibited in terms of funding, staff, infrastructure and other facilities, Dr. Oyigega lamented that the Federal allocation to the centre from the Federation Account was grossly inadequate.
He acknowledged the immense financial assistance of the Benue State Government to the centre in the last 15 years and reiterated the need for funds to be given to the hospital to enable it complete the construction work at its permanent site at Apir.
Responding, the Speaker of the Benue State, Hon. Terseer Tsumba, commended the medical director for ensuring peace at the centre and urged him to sustain same.
He also directed the House Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to immediately meet with the management of the centre to ascertain the problems that need urgent attention for possible intervention.
Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, recently raised alarm over the increasing rate of HIV /AIDS in the state, when Prof. John Idoko, Director General of NACA, paid him a courtesy call in Makurdi .
Alor Otakagwu
3 July 2009 14:50What causes HIV and AIDS? Until what gives rise to the virus is discovered it is difficult to cure. Prof. Ojei of Irish Medical Centre has said several times there is no such virus. Can we have a debate on this topic because that is the only way we will know why this sickness that emanated from the western world now becomes African greatest headache.
I G dennis USA
3 July 2009 18:12Alor Otakagwu dont be fool by Ojei of Irish Medical Centre he is not a prof
Olubunmi Ogungbamigbe
3 July 2009 20:53@Alor,forget Ojehi.HIV/AIDS is real. Keep yourself clean and discipline. It is
“AMERICAN INVENTED DISEASE TO DISCOURAGE SEX.” Be guided.
Ikemba
3 July 2009 22:08HIV and AIDS is no longer regarded as a terminal disease.HIV and AIDS is now considered in the likes of Hypertension, Diabetics, Arthritis waist pain, and some other chronic diseases of modernity.
It is important that those living with the Virus stay healthy and eat well. But is that possible in the type of economy that we run? Where the vast population of people are illiterate semi-illiterate or totally ignorant and impoverished. The Government owns its people good health infrastructures and services. I see no reason why a responsible government should not declare a state of emergency in our health sector. I know that the other sectors such as Power, Education, Roads etc require similar attention as well. But the health of the people is the most important of all this sectors . The demand for attention in all this key areas goes to tell you how hopeless our situation is at the moment.
People are still shy of going for VOLUNTARY TESTING. We are still stigmatizing those that have known or announced their status. Those championing this stigmatization ask them if they’ve ever gone for Testing. When last did you check your status? Have you ever checked to know what your status is? We’re all in soup!
The happenings in Benue State is a reflections what we are yet to see in other parts of the country. Expectations in places like Rivers, Cross Rivers , Kano, Sokoto , Abuja etc. I would not be surprised what statistics would reveal in other parts of the Federation.
I will assert here that some of our people in political office are effective conduit of this Virus due to their clandestine activities while on Political ‘tour’ endless party meetings etc. Sex is one way of contacting and spreading the disease. There are other ways which can predispose an individual to contacting this disease. Take for instance Road Traffic Accident. Here, body fluid may be exchange unknowingly both to the accident victims or to those who out of compassion rendering humanitarian assistance without adequate protection for themselves and injured persons. The risk sources are endless. With the kind of roads we have, God have mercies.
The Government must as a matter of urgency encourage people TO GO FOR VOLUNTARY TESTING . Those who have gone for testing and found positive should be adequately counseled on need for compliance to drug cocktail given to them .Those found give monthly stipend as upkeep. Those who’s CD-4 count is within a certain lower limit should be considered for a disability allowance which should be legislated in our State house of Assemble.
HIV and AIDS is a disease which we all must fight. But for those that have the disease already we should in no way discriminate or ostracized these individuals from our society. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO’S CARRYING THE VIRUS IF YOU’VE NEVER GONE TESTING.
Udeagha Chidi
4 July 2009 17:45Please the government of Benue State should be carefull and take this serious.