ABUDU ––The Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Hon. Patrick Aisien has said that his administration will give the Family Health International (FHI) and the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria, (GHAIN) the necessary support to realize its objective in the area.

Inaugurating the technical committee members of the HIV.AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Tuberculosis (HAST) in Abudu recently the Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. (Dr.) Newman Ugiagbe who represented the chairman implored them to be dedicated to the terms of reference assuring that his council would be part of the success story.

“The HAST committee being inaugurated today is expected to work with GHAIN to fight HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis and ensure the diseases are brought to their barest minimum in the area that we are considered as the only centre for HAST activities in the state shows the high level of responsibilities placed on you and connotes much from you as well,” he said.

HAST, according to the Edo State Zonal Manager Irene Osiagbovo, is a unique development programme which seeks to bring these services to the doorstep of people in the rural areas, adding that it must be community and local government driven.

“FHI has a vision of contributing to global development and supporting health by offering hope to the hopeless worldwide. Our mission is to improve the lives of the people through research and programme in public health,” he said.

The FHI community HAST specialist in charge of the project in Edo State, Dr. Olarewaju Sunday, at the technical session, took them through HAST objectives, strategies, community sensitization and communication, operational structures, planned activities and the benefits of HAST model that would make them succeed.