As part of effort to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and offer young men and women the opportunity of settling down in marriage, the paramount ruler in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State and Mai Tangle, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru II, has said the chiefdom has reduced the dowry and other costs involved in marriage contracts.
Though the first class traditional ruler did not give details of how much of the pride price had been slashed, he said this was an effort aimed at reducing casual sex among youths and the consequent spread of HIV/AIDS in his chiefdom. The Mai Tangle stated this at the weekend at his palace at the commencement of a three day free health care services to the less privileged in the area which was organized by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in collaboration with SURE-P. According to him, the action taken by the Chiefdom has greatly reduced the rate of transmission of the diseases in his area and pledged the cooperation of his people towards the success of the programme.
Earlier, declaring the programme, open, the Chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Usman Bature commended the initiative by NACA to bring health care services to the door step of the common man and explained that the state legislature has initiated a process that will ensure adequate allocation and release of resources to fight HIV/AIDS in the state. He called on the people of Billiri to avail themselves of the opportunity provided and get themselves tested of HIV, diabetes, high blood pressure, malaria among others.
Speaking on the level of success recorded so far in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state, the Project Manager of the Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS (GOMSACA), Dr. Suraj Abdulkarim, explained that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the state has significantly dropped through awareness campaigns and mobilisation as well as active participation of stakeholders in the fight against the disease
The Senior Programmes Officer of NACA, Dr. Ibrahim Mamuda, said the free medical campaign in Gombe with the theme, “getting zero HIV stigma and death” was first in six states of the zone and explained further that qualified medical personnel and drugs were provided to address the general ailments of the people. Centres established for the free clinical services included the Palace of the Mai Tangle, Kofar Galadima, Bare, Tal Community and Bakin Tasha with over four thousand persons attended to for various sicknesses.
(Source: THISDAY)
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