As the world commemorates World AIDS Day 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on global leaders and citizens to recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficient Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) valiantly.

Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further called on them to equalize access to essential HIV services particularly for children and key populations such as people in correctional centres, and children, among others.

The World AIDS Day, which is observed annually on every 1^st of December, has “Equalize to End AIDS” as the theme for this year’s commemoration.

In line with the theme, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo has urged residents of the State to avail themselves of the free HIV services that are available in the state, especially, those specifically for pregnant women in order to end HIV and AIDS.

Banigo, who said this in her goodwill message at the Government House to commemorate the World AIDS Day on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, charged the implementers of HIV/AIDS programme in the State to focus more on key populations like pregnant women, children, and people in prison, amongst others.

She also said that three states had already began what is called the new Youthful Alive and Healthy Naija programme (YAaH) a program organised to curb HIV spread among young persons and these states are Rivers, Anambra and Lagos.

Backing the Governor Nyesom Wike led-administration, she said the administration’s focus on reducing diseases affecting Rivers’ people is the reason the state is among only the 7 states that implements the Adolescence Kits for Expression and Innovation (ADOKIT).