AKSACA concludes training and empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

In a bid to provide means of livelihood and sense of belonging to people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and Vulnerable Children in the state, the Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (AKSACA) has trained and empowered 85 persons made up of the less privileged, orphans and vulnerable children as well as persons living with HIV and AIDS to start up their businesses.

The event which took place at the Women Development Centre, Uyo on Monday, February 20, 2017, was the climax of the six months training in different skills as part of the World Bank HPDP project of 2016, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

The commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Dr. Glory Edet thanked God for the occasion.  She noted that lending a helping hand to the needy and less privileged is a duty that can never be unrewarded by God.

She commended AKSACA for being a major actor in safeguarding the health and comfort of people with HIV/AIDS in the State, adding that the gesture has created positive impacts in the lives of Akwa Ibom people.

Dr. Edet commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his efforts in saving lives, including that of the orphans and vulnerable children, less privileged and people living with HIV/AIDS, adding that the scourge has reduced by the control, prevention, empowerment and other intervention rendered so far by the state government in conjunction with the World Bank through AKSACA.

The commissioner called on members of the public to maintain their integrity and discourage stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS, while all hands should be on deck to fight the scourge.

In her goodwill message, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Association of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ASWHAN), Evangelist Elizabeth Udo appreciated the World Bank, AKSACA and the Ministry of Women Affairs for their moral and material support aimed at improving the lives of women living with HIV/

AIDS, as well as orphans and vulnerable children in the state.  She expressed hope that the Ministry will continue to improve and sustain her relationship with ASWHAN, which will in turn assist them in achieving their core mandate of improving the lives of women, orphans and vulnerable children in the state.

Highpoint of the event was the distribution of fashion design, hairdressing, catering and ICT equipments to beneficiaries.