Awka — Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA) says it is determined to achieve zero tolerance of the HIV/AIDS in the state, describing as unacceptable the state's prevalent rate of 4,4.%.

There are 45 Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers in 15 local government areas in the state, but there are plans to increase the number to 145 to scale up the programme.

Executive director of ANSACA, Dr. Oby Emelumadu who was addressing participants drawn from the media and AIDS control personnel from seven local government areas of the state at a workshop on the implementation of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) at Abagana in Njikoka local government area noted that with programmes already mapped out, the objective could be achieved if the programmes were properly implemented.

"The vulnerable groups are not yet reached. We must therefore redouble our efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS since there is still no known cure. We are all agents of change and this must be shown through our behaviours," she said.

Communications officer of ANSACA, Miss Sylvia Nzurumike said that since it is obvious that many people were still unaware of HIV and AIDS in their environment, there is need to provide the basic information on the issue to create the required awareness.