Free HIV Test, Medical Treatment Offered By NACA on HWN HIGHLIGHT

Residents of communities in Njikoka Local Government Area are receiving free tests and medical treatment from the National Aids Control Agency (NACA) and the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA).

The exercise is part of a four-day multi-disease campaign outreach with continuous medical attention from the NACA and ANSACA

The programme tagged “Getting to Zero HIV/AIDS and Multi Diseases”, presents opportunity for the people to receive free tests for HIV, Malaria, Diabetes, Hypertension and de-worming for children, with appropriate medication to treat the illnesses diagnosed at no cost.

According to the Project Coordinator, Mrs Rosemary Ejike, the initiative, aside addressing the medical needs of the people in the rural communities, would create more awareness about HIV/AIDS which would bring drastic reduction in the contraction and spreading of the virus.

Abagana, Enugwu-ukwu, Nimo and other neighbouring towns received the free health service at St. Martins Catholic Church, Abagana on Saturday.

In their hundreds, the people gathered to receive free medical tests and treatment, which the Project Coordinator said would last for four days, over 5,000 persons targeted.

She said the outreach had also addressed the issue of HIV and AIDS and that it would no longer cause panic in the communities.

Aside providing drugs in abundance and Treated Nets for distribution, the Federal Government was prepared for the outreach as the medical team had all the necessary and even sophisticated equipment for effective service with a clear cut strategy to meet the required audience for awareness and treatment.

Beneficiaries, Florence Nebeolisa and Reverend Father Christopher Nwaonicha spoke glowingly of the positive impact of the programme and requested that the outreach be extended to those in very remote areas.

While the commendations went on, one of the doctors in the medical team, Dr. Emmanuel Uzoma, advised beneficiaries, who have serious ailments like diabetes and hypertension, to follow up on medical check-up in any nearby General Hospital in order to ensure stability in their health.

Treated Nets were also distributed to nursing mothers to protect the children from mosquito bites and Malaria.

Altogether, the gesture from the Federal Government in collaboration with the state government was highly commended and for the people, they asked that the initiative be sustained so that those who could not afford medical expense would not be left to die due to minor and treatable ailments.