Nasarawa State Government has released the sum of ten million naira (N10m) as its counterpart funding for the World Bank HIV/AIDS project in the state.

The state commissioner for health, Malam Abubakar Sarki Dahiru, disclosed this at the presentation of 30 unit motorcycles to HIV/AIDS support groups and a sixteen seater bus to the Nasarawa State Aids Control Agency (NASACA) on behalf of the state first lady, Hajiya Raliya Akwe Doma, in Lafia last week.

The commissioner also hinted that more funds would soon be released by the state government for additional counterpart funding stressing that "we must not always lose sight of the fact that we can only achieve maximum result when we have effective public-private partnership in place".

He said the present administration in the state has demonstrated enough commitment towards addressing the HIV/AIDS problem by transforming the former action committee on AIDS to a full fledged agency.

Malam Dahiru commended the Nasarawa State AIDS control agency (NASACA) for intensifying its effort in the discharge of its responsibilities which he said, "fits perfectly with the vision and mission of the administration of Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma."

In his address, the Executive Director, Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA), Dr. Ishaku A. Bako, said the donation by the Nasarawa State first lady, Hajiya Raliya Aliyu Akwe Doma was another demonstration of a genuine desire to contribute her quota towards confronting the challenge of HIV/AIDS in the state.

He expressed his gratitude to the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma for his dynamism in ensuring a result-oriented Nasarawa State AIDS control agency, and for improving the health sector in Nasarawa State, adding that, the agency was determined more than ever before to justify the confidence reposed on it.

The commissioner of health and that of information, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Mustapha, later distributed keys of the motorcycles to the benefiting support groups and NASACA.

Responding on behalf of the support groups, Mr. Akawu Allu who was visibly happy, thanked the wife of the governor for her kind gesture in addressing the plight of the people living with HIV/AIDS, promising to make good use of the motorcycles.