Mohammed Aminu, Patricia O. & Kubura A. Mohd

The launching last week of the North Central chapter of NAWOCA by the first lady will reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

This is the view expressed by a cross section of people interviewed by Nigerian Newsday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Those interviewed commended the First Lady for initiating the project just as they expressed optimism that the cottage hospital and the Thermacool Bright Service Screening Centre she commissioned would bring relief to those uneffected with the HIV/AIDS.

According to Uztaz Ahmed Rufai Tijani, Principal Al-Imam School Lafia, "the project will go along way in checking the rate of HIV/AIDS spread in Nasarawa State.

He commended Hajiya Turai for the initiative and called on government to enlist the support of religious bodies to preach on the dangers of the disease.

Also speaking to Nigerian Newsday, a civil servant, Malam Hussaini Yahaya said he was particularly happy that a well-equipped cottage hospital was now at Shabu, and the Thermacool Bright and Screening Centre, which is the first of its kind in the whole of the North Central zone.

Another civil servant, Malam Yakubu Mohammed expressed hope that the project by Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua would increase awareness in Nasarawa state thereby reducing the dangers of HIV and its spread.

Mrs. Grace Maikasuwa, a food seller also commended the initiative and called on Nigerians to desist from sexual promiscuity which he said contributes greatly to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Similarly, traders interviewed by Nigerian Newsday in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State hoped that the visit last week of the First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua would help to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

A cross section of the traders commended the first lady for lunching NAWOCA and called on her to ensure that enough drugs were provided for the HIV/AIDS victims.

They commended Nasarawa State government for making it possible for Hajiya Turai to launch the campaign in Nasarawa state which has the third prevalent rate of the spread of HIV/AIDS.