23747 Persons Screened For HIV, 3,780 test positive

The Daughters of Charity Hospital, Kubwa in the FCT, has screened more than 23,747 people for HIV and found 3,780 positive, the hospital’s Administrator, Mary Okoro, has said.

Okoro also told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that 588 children delivered by HIV- positive mothers were born HIV negative.

She said the babies were negative because the mothers were on the prevention from mother to child transmission of HIV treatment regime.

According to her, in the hospital, HIV treatment is free.

Okoro said an average of 100 to 200 HIV positive persons usually attended the clinic everyday and were also provided with anti-retroviral drugs free.

She said, “The hospital has a comprehensive counselling and testing centre, which includes viral load test.

“Only Ola Hospital in Nyanya has the same equipment in the whole of the FCT and this is the reason why persons living with HIV are always referred to us.’’

She said the hospital received support from the Catholic Relief Services in the US and not from the government as it is a non-governmental organisation.