At least, 105 persons contracted HIV during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ogun State, the state government has said.
This has been attributed to low use of condom, poverty, low literacy level, stigma and discrimination as well as risky sexual behaviour.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, while disclosing this at a press conference to mark this year’s World AIDS Day, revealed that about 20,827 persons live with HIV in Ogun State.
With the figure, Coker said Ogun has the highest cases of HIV in the South West.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr Nafiu Aigoro, told newsmen that the 20,827 patients are currently placed on anti-retroviral drugs to keep the virus under control.
She added further that Ogun had the prevalence rate of 1.6 per cent, saying Lagos, Ondo, Oyo and Osun has 1.4 per cent, 1.1 per cent, 0.9 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, government has called on people to abide by the guidelines handed down by government and other agencies to stop the spread of HIV, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Daily Post