Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday in Enugu launched a campaign to eliminate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Syphilis and Hepatitis in the South-East Zone of the country.
The Campaign was titled “Free to Shine”, a Triple Elimination of Campaign of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis among women of reproductive age; Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission and Treatment of Children born with HIV/AIDS.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Tinubu, had on Monday distributed 10,000 medical kits to midwives and nurses in the South-East and distributed food items to the vulnerable groups in Enugu as part of her two-day working visit to the state.
She was accompanied by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Deputy President of the Senate, Hajiya Laila Barau; Wife of Imo Governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma; Hajiya Hadiza Namadi of Jigawa and Dr Falmata Zulum of Borno.
Others are Priscilla Otti of Abia State, Dr Claudia Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Mrs Bamidele Abiodun of Ogun State.
They also include the wife of the governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Adeleke and Dr Gloria Diri of Bayelsa State, while Benue State was represented by the Special Advisor to the Governor on Women Affairs, Scholastica Ben-sor.
Flagging-off the campaign which held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu said the programme was part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), aimed at eliminating HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis by 2030.
She also said the programme was an advocacy Initiative led by the African Union of First Ladies for Development and Global Partners with the goal of addressing HIV in Africa.
According to her, Nigeria, being the country with the highest burdens of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa due to its large population, was posed with these significant challenges.
The burden, she said, was particularly significant and severe among the children, youths, women and marginalised.
“HIV/AIDS are very much around us and vaccination is required to treat it.
“We launched the campaign in January and have flagged it off in five political zones of North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-South and South-West.
“Today, we have flagged off the campaign in South-East to complete Free to Shine campaign,” she said.
She thanked Gov. Peter Mbah and his Wife, Nkechinyere and the Enugu people for the warm reception accorded her and her entourage.
