Nasarawa State Government, through the Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA), has established three additional comprehensive HIV/AIDS centres as part of government’s efforts to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

The treatment centres are located at the General Hospitals in Obi, Nasarawa and the ERCC hospital Alushi – Akwanga.

The state commissioner of information and orientation, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustapha Aliyu, stated this last week during his ministry’s monthly press briefing in Lafia.

He said the establishment of the centres would assist in checking the spread of the disease, adding that government would intensify its effort in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS.

Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu also said government would strengthen the Nasarawa State Hospital Management Board to ensure that health care delivery reached the people at the grassroots.

He said that the state government would sustain the drugs revolving fund scheme in order to ensure the availability of drugs at all times.

In recognition of the importance of information technology to the health sector, the commissioner said government has embarked on the provision of an enhanced health management information system to keep both medical and health workers of the board well informed.

The commissioner said government attached importance to training and re-training of local government staff to make service at the local level fully professional.

He said between 2007 and 2008, 106 staff from various local government areas in the state were sponsored to undergo training in various institutions of learning across the country.