Nigeria’s first lady, Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua, has in Lafia said that only focused and commited approach by government, non-governmental organisations, agencies and individuals could win the battle against HIV/AIDS and reduce women vulnerability to the disease.

HajiyaTurai Yar'Adua who was accompanied on the visit by the First Lady of the Republic of Niger and President, African Synergies on HIV/AIDS, Madame Laraba Tandja, stated this at the launching of the North-Central chapter of the National Women Coalition Against HIV/AIDs (NAWOCA)at the Lafia City Hall, along Shendam Road.

She charged that men and women should have unlimited access to full and accurate information about their health.

Worried at the high rate of the pandemic in the country,the First Lady said there was a need for all hands to be on deck in order to fight the pandemic just as she called for a common front to strengthen the gender development frame-work with emphasis on women .

She explained that NAWOCA  was established a year ago to improve advocacy,information education and enlightenment for the prevention of the disease, stressing that the launching of the North-Central Zone was meant to scale up coverage of the remaining states  that are yet to launch their own chapters.

At the occation, Nasarawa State governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, expressed appreciation of government and people of Nasarawa State to the First Lady, saying  he hoped that the visit which he described as very unique,would strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS . He reiterated the determination of the state government to continue to invest in projects aimed at improving the health care needs of the people of Nasarawa State.

Noting that HIV/AIDS is the greatest challenge facing health care delivery system in Nigeria and a threat to future generation,he said the health care needs of the state was tailored to address the challenges of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

He said government had taken measures  to address the pandemic in the state with the provision of free anti-retroviral treatment for those infected with HIV/AIDS, establishment of confidential and testing centres at various locations as well as regular support to non-governmental organisations.

The president's wife who was also accompanied by wives of governors of North-Central states,commissioned the Termaiko Centre for breast and cervical cancer disease in Lafia as well as the MDGs Assisted hospital at Shabu.