The wife of the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Hajiya Raliyatu Aliyu Akwe Doma has launched the Nasarawa State Chapter of the National Women Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (NAWOCA). Performing the Launching ceremony at the Abacha Youth Centre in Lafia, Hajiya Raliyatu stated that the Coalition’s objectives were to provide support for women and girls living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevent the disease through public awareness.

The NAWOCA which is the pet project of Her Excellency, Hajiya Turai Umaru Yar’Adua was launched nationally in August 2007. During that launch, wives of Executive Governors of the States pledged to support the First Lady by launching state chapters of the Coalition.

Hajiya Raliyatu said that the impact of HIV/AIDS was not only on those who suffer from the disease, but also on the resources available to cope with the situation. Therefore action on mitigating the disease has to be coordinated and implemented at all levels.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, stated that people living with HIV/AIDS required both psycho-social and treatment support. He therefore stated Government commitment to reaching out to those infected and affected by the disease.

In support of the activities of NAWOCA in the State, Governor Doma said that his Administration has initiated some programmes to alleviate the challenges of the disease. Amongst these are:

1. The provision of free anti-retroviral treatment for those infected with HIV/AIDS;
   
   
2. The establishment of confidential counselling and testing centres at various locations;
   
   
3. Regular support to Non-Governmental Organisations engaged in HIV/AIDS activities in the State;
   
   
4. Establishment of 58 multi-purpose Primary Health Care Centres in our rural areas as the basic unit of healthcare delivery. The features of each of these centres include a delivery room, well equipped laboratory and solar powered panels as sources of electricity and portable borehole water for use in the clinic, as well as the neighbourhood.

The Governor also used the opportunity of the function to announce the establishment of a specialist centre for breast and cervical cancers in the state as well as the purchase and distribution of grains worth more than N50million at 50% subsidy throughout the state.

The guest lecturer at the occasion was Assistant Professor Mrs Alashele Abimiku.