BY SOLA OGUNDIPE
THE National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA,  Prof John Idoko has debunked reports emanating from some quarters over faulty Direct Data Capturing machines currently being used by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the ongoing voter registration.

The reports which began as a rumour, had allegedly stated that persons whose finger prints could not be captured by the machines were most likely suffering from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, among others.

The development had led some people shunning the on-going voter registration  in some parts of the country.

In a reaction, Director General of the Agency, Prof John Idoko said nothing could be further from the truth, especially as many healthy Nigerians have discovered that the machines do have faults, especially after they may have become heated up following hours of use; or when the batteries become weak and cannot, therefore, perform optimally.

He appealed to all Nigerians, especially those who are living with HIV, to go out and perform their civic responsibility as Nigerians, by getting registered at the on-going exercise.

“Persons peddling unfounded rumours about the DDC and HIV or any disease whatsoever, are obviously doing so of ignorance.”. he noted.

Idoko urged members of the public to know that only a medical test can verify one’s HIV status.

“No one can categorically know that anyone is HIV-positive or negative by merely thumb-printing on the DDC machine,” he said.
He therefore advised every Nigerian to endeavor to register so as to ensure that they are not disenfranchised at the end of the day, especially when it comes to voting for the candidates of their choice at election time.