REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO AT THE OCCASION OF THE ISLAMIC STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIV/AIDS  POLICY FOR MUSLIM UMMAH IN NIGERIA ON THE 15^TH APRIL 2008, AT HAMDALA HOTEL KADUNA.

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The government and people of Kaduna State are highly honoured to serve as host to the distinguished guests gathered here today.

There is no doubt that in our current generation, no disease is as deadly and dreadful as the HIV/AIDS. This is more so because it is confirmed that there is no cure yet for the dreaded disease.

HIV/AIDS is a disease that afflicts all categories of people including the Muslim Ummah. Therefore, this meeting of the Islamic stakeholders on this fearful disease is a step in the right direction and deserves commendation.

The presence of prominent stakeholders including His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto will convince all those in doubt about the reality and dangers of the disease.

Fortunately, inspite of the dreadfulness of HIV/AIDS, it is preventable.

What is seriously required is awareness campaign for the Muslim Ummah to come to terms with the reality of the dangers of the disease, and for everyone to understand that no one is immune from the disease except those who have taken preventive measures against it.

There is no doubt that important meetings like this will go a long way in drawing up strategies to combat the disease.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Kaduna State Government on its own part is all out to fight the disease and prevent its prevalence among its citizens.

To this end, the Government has intensified awareness campaign and is relentlessly providing free Anti-Retroviral drugs to those afflicted with the HIV/AIDS disease within selected hospitals in the State.

Similarly, the State Government runs a preventive programme of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in twenty-three (23) general hospitals in the State and thirty six other health centers.

Voluntary counseling and testing services are available and fee in all Government Hospitals in the State including most of the primary health centre in local government areas.

The State Government provides free treatment for opportunistic infection to people living with the HIV/AIDS virus.

These efforts is hoped to compliment the activities of the already established State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) whose main duty is to coordinate the programmes of the war against HIV/AIDS in the State.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I would like to assure you that the Kaduna State Government is all out to fight the scourge tirelessly. In this respect, we are willing to partner with any group or organization towards achieving this objective.

On this note, I wish to once again welcome all Guests and participants to Kaduna State and wish you successful deliberations and journey mercies back to your various destinations.

Wassalam

Governor Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo is a true democrat, whose approach to problems is always humane and conciliatory he is a man of peace who patiently looked to the future with courage and hope. His commitment in the direction of transforming the state into a relatively better integrated and functional polity is continuing  with a mission  to create a stable  and cohesive polity capable of securing effectively the interests of the various communities and giving them the opportunity to develop and live in peace  with one another.