| Bayelsa State government has blamed the oil industry operating in the state for the high rate of HIV/AID cases promising to go into partnership with an American firm to produce its own brand of condom for its population with a view to reducing the spread of the virus in the predominantly riverine state.
The condoms project, a partnership venture with Family Health International of the United States of America, which would cost the state government about N250m will see the foreign partners providing technical support. Special Adviser to the governor on HIV/AIDS and Community Health, Dr. Godbless Eruani who disclosed this in Yenagoa said the factory for the �Bayelsa condom� when established would not only provide employment for the army of jobless youths in the state but also help curb the problem of restiveness in the state as well as the spread of the deadly virus. The governor�s aide who expressed happiness that the awareness level of the scourge among Bayelsans has moved from 27 per cent to 97 per cent in the last twelve months said the condom manufacturing plant would cost the state government the sum of N250m to establish. The special adviser added that apart from the large doses of antiretroviral drugs sent to the hospital and free kit/self test kits provided by the government as well as ensuring that HIV/AIDS is not a prerequisite for employment of eligible Bayelsans by the construction companies, Bayelsa State government has entered into agreement with a United States firm to produce condom especially for the female sex with a view to curbing the spread of the virus. According to him, the move �is to provide employment for the youths. And by March next year the first batch of condom to the known as Bayelsa Condom would be out for distribution not only in the state but the entire Niger Delta.� While assuring that the state government would continue to collaborate with all non-governmental organizations to combat the scourge he however called on Bayelsans to guard against indiscriminate sex. |
Dec272006