The Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS , Akwa Ibom State chapter, has called for their inclusion in the implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and other economic programs in the state. The Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of ASWHAN, Rachael Ignatius, made the appeal on Friday during a press conference at the State Agency for the Control of AIDS office in Uyo.
'Federal and state ministries of health should engage ASWHAN in PMTCT program implementation and service delivery, thereby positioning ASWHAN as the lead CSO for PMTCT in Nigeria to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV. No child henceforth should be born with HIV.' The group also urged the state government to consider the HIV anti-stigma and discrimination bill, which had not been assented to in the last administration.