Akwa
Ibom is to begin its first-ever survey of HIV/AIDS statewide to fill gaps in
its data about the condition.
Some
3,257 households and 16,936 individuals, including 7,791 children, are mapped
to be sampled across all 31 local government areas of the state starting on
April 1.
The
survey is funded by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), with technical support from FHI360 under a project called
Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services (SIDHAS).
“The
findings from this survey will help the government and its stakeholders to plan
how best to address and find solutions to the problem of HIV & AIDS in
communities, LGAs and in the state generally,” according to Robert Chiegil,
country director FHI 360 Nigeria, in a statement.
“[It] is a unique initiative that will
generate precise data to describe the HIV epidemic in Akwa Ibom and also
estimate the unmet need for HIV interventions in the state.
Akwa
Ibom is among states where the United States President's Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has chosen to scale up HIV prevention and control
strategies.
But
data to guide the scale up had “significant gaps and was limited for planning
purposes,” said Chiegil.
“The
survey is therefore intended to fill these gaps and provide a sound evidence
base to guide and inform specific strategies for scaling up HIV prevention and
control interventions in Akwa Ibom state.
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