More than 400, 000 persons were screened for HIV virus in Borno, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, has said.

Mshelia told newsmen in Maiduguri that the persons were screened and counseled on the scourge in the 53 Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers in the state.

He also disclosed that 23, 024 positive persons were receiving treatment in the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres in the state.

Mshelia added that 90, 065 pregnant women were also screened and those found to be positive were placed on treatment at the 38 Prevention of Mother-to-Child Therapy (PMTCT) centres in the state.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state government in collaboration with UNICEF had procured HIV test kits worth over N30 million.

Mshelia explained that the kits were distributed to the centres in the liberated communities.

According to him, the state government had taken over 11 PMTCT centres from partners, whose intervention programme winded up.

He added that arrangements had been completed to set up additional PMTCT centres to enhance campaign against the scourge.

Mshelia called on the people to avail themselves for the HIV test to know their status.

The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the government to execute viable projects to enhance healthcare delivery in the state.

(NAN)