Eid-el-Kabir: Govt presents cash donations to PLWHA
By SAKA Laaro, Ilorin
The Kwara Government has donated N10,000 cash to each of the selected 80 beneficiaries among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the state.
Dr Saleem Alabi, the Project Manager and Executive Secretary, Kwara State HIV/AIDS Control Agency (KWASACA) presented cheques to the beneficiaries in Ilorin.
Speaking with journalists during the presentation, Alabi said that the beneficiaries were selected from the 16 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the gesture is one of the interventions of the government through the agency to take care of people who are living with HIV/AIDS.
“We all know the economic realities in Kwara today and of course with the advent of COVID-19 that has ravaged the whole world especially in Nigeria.
“We have now coined out a programme and intervention to take care of the poor, the sick and the needy amongst the PLWHA in Kwara.
“The government of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has deemed it fit to cater for this select group of people and we are taking care of with this intervention.
“About 80 selected poor and needy among the PLWHA in Kwara state who are given a cash donation of N10,000 each, cutting across the 16 local government areas of the state.
“We are here today to officially present cheques,” Alabi said.
The KWASACA Project Manager said that the intervention for the PLWHA focused directly in terms of support for the people.
“This programme is financial support and because of the exigency of time; festival is approaching, and our people are ravaged because of COVID-19, this is an apt time to make the programme happen so that the financial support will go a long way to help them,” he added.
Also speaking, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, enjoined the PLWHA members to always take care of themselves by eating good and balanced diet, as well as take their medication.
He also advised them to contact the KWASACA on areas of their need to ensure they are well and good.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Coordinator Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Kwara, Mr Fadesere Ademola, thanked the state government for the gesture.
He, however, lamented that PLWHA was faced with the challenge of stigma in the society, “especially in our communities and among relations.”
“I only encourage my colleagues not to be discouraged. I know it is not that easy. They should feel free and relate well with other members of the society.
“They should take good care of themselves, follow laid down instructions and take their drugs regularly to live long,” he added.
He commended the state government for their financial support to the PLWHA.
