The Bayelsa State Action Committee on AIDS (BYSACA) came into being in the year 2000, but was reconstituted and formally re-inaugurated in May 2006 by the then Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, now The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The present SACA is composed of twenty (20) members committee and was re-inaugurated on the 17th August, 2007 by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Since assumption of office of a US trained Medical Epidemiologist and Public Health Consultant (Dr. Temple R. Iluma (SACA, Chairman) , SACA has recorded a tremendous achievements.
The achievements are as follow:
Setting up of a HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing (HCT) Centre at SACA House, Etegwe, Yenagoa. The Centre is manned by trained Counselors and Medical experts who care and respect individual private/confidential health status.
Since the commencement of free Counseling and Testing at the HCT Centre in 2007, a total of 15000 persons have been attended to. Similarly, a total of 5000 people have so far been attended to at our mobile HCT programme.
Provision of Free Antiretroviral Drugs to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Provision of Monthly Stipends of Ten Thousand Naira (N10, 000.00) to Bayelsans Living with HIV/AIDS (BLHA) for their Nutritional support. SACA Bayelsa remains the only body that gives such support in the Country.
Inauguration of the Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA).
SACA in collaboration with World Bank inaugurated Gender Advisory Committees (GAC) at State and Local Government levels. These Committees are responsible for gender mainstreaming and human rights and mobilization of women for HIV/AIDS related services at the State and Local Government levels.
SACA inaugurated the State Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Working Group (TWG).
Introduction of Free Mobile HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing programme.
Introduction of Free customised SACA Condoms distributed to Hotels, Motor Parks and general public.
Installation of a CD4 Count Machine at the HCT Centre, SACA House, Etegwe, Yenagoa.
Organizes HIV/AIDS Lecture series/workshops for the Military, Police and other security agencies.
The introduction of Daily HIV/AIDS Education programmes in the Four (4) Native languages (Nembe, Ogbia, Epie/Atissa and Izon) of the State for the benefit of the un-educated and the rural people on Radio Bayelsa 97.1FM .
A weekly HIV/AIDS Public Education in Pidgin English on Ray-Power FM, Elebele.
Every Wednesday One-On-One Public Discussion on HIV/AIDS Education at the HCT Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
SACA Quiz Show. Live HIV/AIDS Phone-in programme on Radio Bayelsa 97.1 FM.
Organized HIV/AIDS Lectures for Faith Based Organizations (FBOs).
Distribution of IEC materials to churches, mosques, traditional African religious houses, restaurants, hotels, motor parks etc.
Grassroots campaigns through the instrumentality of Local Government Action Committee on AIDS (LACA) to the eight (8) Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa State.
Over 25 Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) have been mobilized to the rural communities of the State as instruments for HIV/AIDS public awareness campaign.
HIV/AIDS Education programme for Secondary schools through PET in partnership with N.Y.S.C.
SACA in collaboration with World Bank Assisted Project on HIV/AIDS within two months of its inauguration organized two workshops on HIV/AIDS Management and Effective Strategies for Prevention of HIV/AIDS for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA), Local Barbers, Manicurists and Circumcisers.
SACA presented a paper on the control of HIV/AIDS in Bayelsa State at the 2nd Global Summit on HIV/AIDS, Traditional Medicine and Indigenous Knowledge held in Accra – Ghana.
SACA in alliance with World Bank Assisted HIV/AIDS Project organized a 5-days Development workshop with Technical Working Group (TWG) to draft a Bayelsa State HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (SSP 2010-2015).
SACA organized a one day workshop on HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing for DAEWOO Engineering and Construction Company. This was sequel to provision of Free HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing for Management and Staff of the Company.
SACA in association with HIV/AIDS Consultants from University of Georgia, Atlanta USA organized HCT workshop for Lab Scientists to achieve best practices at HIV/AIDS facilities in the State.
Dr. Temple R. Iluma (SACA Chairman) advocated that as part of comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS and for the Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support to be achieved,
it require the Leaders, Stakeholders, Individuals, NGOs, CSOs and Private Sectors to integrate Nutritional support into their programmes for the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in order to ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to enable them meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life; mindful of the high potency of the ARV drugs, it’s only proper that these people are well fed. He also called on the State House of Assembly to pass into law, a bill that will protect the right of the PLWHA against discrimination and stigmatization.
He further stressed the need for the establishment of HIV/AIDS INSTITUTE in Bayelsa State. This will serve as a hub for Niger Deltans where comprehensive treatment, care and up-to-date support services would be given to the HIV/AIDS victims in the region.
In pursuant of our target to fight HIV/AIDS to finish in our beloved State, SACA hereby welcome partnerships with International Donor Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Sectors and the Stakeholders.
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