HIV/AIDS cases on increase in Kano --- Dr. Ahmad
By RABI A, BATURE

IT has been observed that the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases and prevalence in Kano state is on the increase.
A referral coordinator at the ghain field office, Dr. Abubakar Ahmad made the observation during a referral network meeting at the Ghain office last Tuesday.
Dr. Ahmad pointed out that this trend is not only frightening but also predicts catastrophe of an unimaginable dimension in future for the state and the nation at large, adding that most of the reported cases were of the youths, either unmarried or divorced.
According to him, in 1999, the HIV prevalence rate in Kano rose to 4.3 per cent as against 0.8 per cent in 1992, making the annual rate of newly infected people at approximately 30,000 per annum.
Shedding more light on a referral network, the coordinator said that it is a coordinated process of services delivery to provide health and community services to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS throughout the continuum of care.
He added that a good referral system ensures access to needed services, stressing that confidentiality is maintained about referrals and their outcome is documented.