By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press-Nigeria The military community is considered a high-risk environment for HIV transmission.
Study shows that a total of One hundred and fifty military personnel aged between 20 and 55 years attending the Nigerian army Hospital, Air Force Clinic and Police Clinic in the Niger Delta alone of Nigeria were randomly recruited for the study.
Samples were tested for HIV using an immunochromatographic assay.
The CD4 cell count was estimated using the Partec Cyflow Counter (Partec, Germany).
Results of the study showed an overall HIV prevalence rate of 14.67%. The prevalence of HIV was significantly higher among subjects in the ≥40 years age group (P = 0.03).
The HIV prevalence was higher among female subjects compared to male military personnel.
This prompted the ministry of Defence under the leadership of the Minister Bashir Salihi Magashi to raise the bars of the deliverables in safeguarding the overall well-being of the target beneficiaries of the collaboration between the Nigerian Ministry of Defence NMOD and the United States Department of Defence USDOD programme activities .
Gen Magashi expressed satisfaction with the performance indicators and progress recorded in programme activities .
Bashir Salihi Magashi with delegate of US Military.
Adding that fighting HIV among the troops , their families and the civilians around the barrack has significantly changed the narratives about the spread and the management of the reporter cases of the scourge despite challenging operational environment .
The Defence Minister who is the Chairman NMOD – USDOD said it is gratifying that his directive during the last meeting held in March this year that regular interface should be upheld is being complied with.
While appreciating the US Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs Mary Beth Leonard for sustaining the partnership, General Magashi expressed satisfaction with the availability of the State of the Art equipment which he noted are aiding National response and combat against communicable diseases, HIV and Covid-19 pandemic.
The Co- Chairman of the NMOD – USDOD Ambassador Beth Leonard statistcally outlined the high and the low cases of HIV and scored the programme activities very high in performance.
In their seperate remarks the Director General, Defence Health Implimention Programme (DHIP) Brigadier General NAE Okeji (rtd) and the United States Army Medical Research Directorate, Africa and Nigeria (USAMRD-A/N Dr Laura Chitandem said sixteen years after the establishment of the Steering Committee, precisely in 2005 has made significant impact in carrying out its mandate.
They later gave slide presentation of overview of programme activities and highlighted achievements in critical areas of common concerns.
The Steering Committee thereafter presented prayers for the adoption and Implimention of Genomic Sequencing for DRL as well as the need for the inclusion of the Legal Services Department.
The duo also brought to the fore in the review the Implimention status of prayers granted at the last meeting.
The climax of the review meeting included the general discussion by 16 – man member Committee and the the unveiling of NMOD- USDOD Hiv programme Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2025 by the Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd).
