By joshua 
Health care providers have been challenged to go further into researches towards ending the prevalence of HIV/AIDS pandemic, more than they are doing on Covid 19.
The Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike made the remarks at the commemoration of the 2021, WORLD AIDS DAY in Lokoja, today.
Mrs Arike advised people living with the pandemic not to give up on life, rather, that they should adhere strictly to their drugs and live on.
The Kogi State SSG frowned at sigmatization of people living with the pandemic, noting this practice reduces eradication of the disease.
Earlier in an introductory remark, the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Sheidu Yunusa commended Pharmacist Benard Akpah and Dr Ikemefuna Onyeyili, State Heads of the Center for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) and the AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF), respectively, as well as other facilitators, for synergies and proactiveness to have made this year’s edition a huge success.
Other stakeholders that added candor to the success of the event include Dr Zakari Usman, CMD of the State Hospitals Mgt Board, Pharm Eric Akoji- the State SASCAP Director, Idris Ozovehe of CISHAN and a host of others.
Highlights of the event was a road walk, distribution of male condoms as well as HIV tests and counseling by the CIHP.