NEWS

16,000 Persons Living With HIV Died In Borno

Published

7 years ago

December 4, 2017

The Borno chapter of the Network of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWAN), says more than 16,000 members of the organisation died in the past three years in Borno.

Its Chairman, Hassan Mustapha, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that the victims died due to the activities of Boko Haram, which made it difficult for patients to access Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and other support services.

Mustapha was speaking against the backdrop of the 2017 World AIDS Day.

He explained that more than 27,000 persons were registered for ART between 2011 and 2014, in various designated centres in the state, lamenting that the number dropped to 11, 303 clients in 2017.

He said that the deaths were due to lack of access to treatment, non compliance to the use of drugs and poor economic status of the persons living with the virus.

Mustapha disclosed that the association confirmed the death of its members through visitation and phone calls to their families, noting that most of the deaths were not recorded at the ART centres.

The chairman added that the reduction in the number of persons on ART was a clear indication that the persons were either dead or missing.

Mustapha maintained that the deaths were due to lack of access to ARV drugs in the communities affected by insurgency.

“Most of the ART centres were closed down due to Boko Haram insurgency, thereby making it difficult for our members to access treatment.

“Positive living persons in Damboa, Damasak, Monguno, Konduga, Malamfatori and other rural communities could no longer access treatment, as they could not afford transportation to travel to areas where services were available in Maiduguri and Biu.

“The situation was further compounded by the inability of the state government to pay its counterpart fund for the HIV/AIDS campaign programme in the last three years.

“Development partners could also not provide care and support services; economic strengthening support and other services to improve the health status of our members.

“It is clear that the virus is not curable but it could be controlled through effective management. Thousands of our members stopped visiting clinics and when we reach out to locate them we find out that they were either dead or missing,” he said.

Mustapha further decried non-inclusion of their members in the state government’s skills acquisition programme, to enable them engage in income generating activities and meet their needs.

“We have been able to control stigma in the society but we need economic empowerment support to enable us make a healthy living.”

However, Dr Haruna Mshelia, the Commissioner for Health, said that the state government had paid its counterpart fund to the programme, to facilitate its successful implementation.

Mshelia said the state had recorded success in the campaign against the virus in the past three years.

He disclosed that the state government had established 42 HIV Testing Service Centres in health facilities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and 52 Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission PMTCT sites, with 12 ART sites in general hospitals across the state.

Mshelia noted that the state government had scaled up activities in 237 health facilities, to control transmission and provide quality services for positive living persons.

The commissioner said that the services were provided in collaboration between the state government and National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FHI360, IHVN and UNFPA.

“In 2017, some 236, 404 persons were tested for HIV and 1, 902 new cases recorded in the state.

“11, 303 clients are currently receiving anti-retroviral treatment and 922 others on PMTCT.”

Related Topics:Persons Living With HIV Died In Borno

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MUSIC

Ayra Starr Opens For Coldplay In Sold-Out Stadium Concerts

Published

3 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Reporter

Ayra Starr opens for Coldplay in sold-out stadium concerts | fab.ng

Grammy-nominated singer Ayra Starr is achieving new heights in her career as she joins the legendary band Coldplay on their Australian tour.

Currently, the Music of the Spheres 2024 World Tour has Coldplay headlining 11 dates across Australia and New Zealand.

First, Ayra Starr joins Zimbabwean singer Shone and Australian X Factor contestant Emmanuel Kelly as opening acts for the multi-award-winning group. Consequently, this opportunity allows her to perform in front of large international audiences.

Moreover, at their Coldplay concert at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Ayra Starr energetically entertains thousands of fans. Specifically, she performs her hit single “Rush” and additionally thrills the audience with popular tracks from her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’.

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Her engaging stage presence and unique sound made an impression on Coldplay’s fans. Further marking yet another success for the Nigerian star, she continues to expand her global influence.

Adding to her impressive achievements, Ayra Starr features on Coldplay’s latest album, ‘Moon Music’. She collaborates with the band on the track “Good Feeling.”

This collaboration is particularly historic, as she becomes only the fourth woman to feature on a Coldplay track. Interestingly, she follows the likes of Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Selena Gomez, in the band’s nearly 30-year history.

Ayra Starr has enjoyed an exceptional 2024, which began with a historic Grammy nomination. Furthermore, this makes her the first Nigerian female lead artist to earn this recognition.

Her album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’, continued to build her commercial success with standout guest appearances from Nigerian stars Asake and Seyi Vibez, American R&B artists Giveon and Coco Jones, and Brazilian sensation Anitta.

Each collaboration has contributed to her global appeal, further establishing her as one of Africa’s top music exports.

Recently, Ayra Starr received nominations for the 2024 MTV EMAs in two categories—Best New Artist and Best Afrobeats.

As her global presence grows, she is set to represent Africa proudly at the awards show on November 10 in Manchester. This would mark another milestone in her remarkable journey.

MOVIES

Showmax To Screen “Princess On A Hill” At AFRIFF 2024

Published

5 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Reporter

Princess on a Hill to screen at AFRIFF 2024 | fab.ng

In celebration of African storytelling, Showmax announces that its upcoming Nigerian Original drama, Princess on a Hill, will screen at the 13th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Furthermore, the TV series brings a captivating story of ambition and corporate power struggles to the festival on its screening date.

Additionally, MultiChoice, Showmax’s parent company, will host a panel session titled “Crafting Local Content for Global Success,” which explores how African narratives can reach global audiences.

In this limited series, co-creators Abiola Sobo and Tolu Ajayi tell the story of Zara (Onyinye Odokoro), a young executive who enters a high-stakes corporate environment after winning a reality show.

Subsequently, she faces off against the fierce CEO, Moyosore Lawson (Bimbo Manuel). As a result, Zara must adapt to her new reality in the complex and cutthroat world of high-stakes business, where power struggles and ruthless competition dominate.

Moreover, the series showcases the complexities of power and ambition while demonstrating Showmax’s commitment to authentic African storytelling.

Meanwhile, MultiChoice will present an exclusive session at this year’s festival, focusing on “Crafting Local Content for Global Success.”

During this session, key industry players and stakeholders will lead discussions on Thursday morning, November 7, 2024. First, they will highlight local content’s importance in global entertainment.

Then, they will explore strategies to produce TV content that connects with diverse global audiences.

Above all, MultiChoice and Showmax actively support AFRIFF’s mission to elevate African filmmakers and create a global platform for African stories.

Finally, viewers can watch Princess on a Hill when it premieres on Showmax on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Are you interested in staying updated? You can discover more exciting movie updates by visiting our website.

NEWS

Bobrisky Released On Bail After Denying 15 Million Naira Bribery Allegations

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Reporter

Bobrisky granted bail after denying N15m bribery allegation | fab.ng

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently granted bail to Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, following his detention.

On Thursday night, Bobrisky was apprehended and removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to travel to London.

Subsequently, Bobrisky took to social media to inform his followers about his arrest, claiming to have sustained injuries during the incident.

He posted, “Nigerians, help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

After his arrest, officials transported him to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for questioning over alleged bribery claims involving the commission.

The allegations arose when social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice note reportedly featuring Bobrisky’s voice. In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed he had bribed EFCC officials with N15 million to drop money laundering charges.

However, late on Friday, November 1, authorities processed Bobrisky’s bail, and he regained his freedom shortly after. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the release on Saturday but declined to provide additional information.

A source close to the case disclosed that Bobrisky denied all bribery allegations in his official statement. He also challenged the voice note’s authenticity, urging the individual who shared it to prove the claims.

According to the source, Bobrisky asserted that no EFCC official had solicited money from him and insisted he had not offered any bribe.

Through this statement, Bobrisky maintained his innocence, asserting that the bribery accusations were baseless. Meanwhile, the EFCC has yet to comment further on the case. This leaves questions about the voice note’s origins and the nature of the allegations still unresolved.