AWKA, Anambra -                                           Dr Vincent Ogochukwu Okpala, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, has expressed concerns about the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients in the State.

Okpara charged members of the public to stop stigmatizing people living with HIV and AIDS virus, saying that the disease today can be described as the easiest to manage.

Dr Okpala who was addressing journalists in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka said, “Statistically speaking, you are more likely to die from another ailment than HIV/AIDS because medications are getting better and people are living longer.”

The commissioner noted that more awareness programme was needed in the state and country at large to control the spread of the virus.

He noted that, in 1998, Anambra had one treatment centre but currently the state had about 98 centres for control of the virus and has been discharging its duties well through the collaboration of the state Ministry of Health with Anambra State Agency for Control of AIDS, ANSACA.

The commissioner explained that “In Nigeria as a whole, one of the principal targets is to achieve `zero infection’ but no state in the country has yet been able to achieve that.”

Dr Okpala urged the public to always go for tests, which according to him would help the victims to receive adequate treatment from established centres.

He praised partners like UN and others that had contributed to fighting the war against HIV/AIDS.

The commissioner commended Gov. Willie Obiano for granting approval for the creation of more centres that provide treatments for people living with the virus.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sexor through sharing injection drug equipment.