Akwa Ibom blames high rate of HIV/AIDS on influx of visitors

The Akwa Ibom government has attributed the high rate of HIV/AIDS in the state to the influx of visitors.

The Nigerian HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) shows that Akwa Ibom has the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the country.

About 5.5 per cent of the people living with HIV in Nigeria are in Akwa Ibom State, followed by Benue State, which has about 5.3 per cent prevalence rate, according to the findings of the survey released on March 14, in Abuja.

Few days after the release of the NAIIS survey findings, the health commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Dominic Ukpong, briefed reporters in Uyo on the state government reaction to the survey findings.

“The location of the state with a large coastal front of 129 Km stretching from Ikot Abasi to Oron, an airport, good road network, peaceful atmosphere, friendly disposition of our people, good cuisines and fast developing economy have made our state the destination of choice for both national and international visitors,” Mr Ukpong, a medical doctor, told reporters.

“All these are not without attendant public health consequences, like transmission of communicable diseases which HIV/AIDS cannot be excluded”, he added.

– Premium Times