BY ANAYO OKOLI
UMUAHIA— Abia State government has described as false claims by Aba branch of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, that the state was not doing anything to sensitize Abians on the danger of HIV/AIDS.

The government, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, Ugochukwu Emezue, stated that Orji’s administration places much premium on health of Abians as exemplified in numerous programmes and projects he had embarked on since he became governor.

According to Emezue, the recent allegations by the Chairman Nigerian Medical Association, Aba chapter, “is an attempt to rubbish the achievements of the Governor in the health sector.”

Emezue said funding of the State Action Committee on AIDS, which programmes had received international commendation, was a clear manifestation of the governor’s desire to ensure that cases of HIV/AIDS were tackled headlong.

Emezue advised the association to cross-check its facts before going to the press, so as not to deceive Abians and Nigerians on the efforts of government in this area.

According to him, Governor Orji is doing so much in other areas apart from the fight against HIV-AIDS, as can be seen in the building of two diagnostic centres in Aba and Umuahia, 210 health centres across the State and even in ensuring that the demands of doctors in the State are also met in terms of pay package and welfare.