Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, has disclosed that about 400,000 individuals are living with the dreaded HIV/ AIDS in the state.

Parker disclosed this yedterday in Port Harcourt while declaring open a one-day training workshop for journalists, organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Media Initiative Against HIV/AIDS, Nigeria.

He said the number of persons living with the virus in the state represented 7.4 percent was based on a technical report of the 2008 National HIV Sero-prevalence Sentinel Survey carried out among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics in Nigeria.

The commissioner stated that the number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the state may increase when the report of the 2010 HIV Sero-prevalence Sentinel Survey, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Health and its development partners, is out.

Parker said the state government had shown political will in responding to the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS in the state, pointing out that policy development and advocacy initiatives had started taking shape.

He described HIV/AIDS as a disease that 'finds fault lines in our society', saying the dreaded disease has assumed endogenous characteristics in different communities worldwide.

"To add to the challenge, HIV/AIDS is a disease that 'finds fault in our society', and is assuming endogenous characteristics in different communities worldwide.

"Generally, response efforts require action in sensitive and often controversial areas such as sex and gender relations, prostitution, drugs, homosexuality poverty, wealth death, stigma and other ethical and social concerns", the Commissioner said.

He commended the media for the central role it had played in addressing HIV/AIDS in the state and Nigeria in general, saying that it has created awareness and facilitated partnerships among different sectors and for persons living with the virus.

In her speech, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Seminetari challenged journalists to always demand for government's explanation on how programmes and policies aimed at fighting the disease are implemented.

Mrs. Seminatari, who was represented by Mrs. Gina Dappa-Osika said HIV/AIDS is not just a disease, but a programme that has adverse effect on the social and economic aspect of the society and called on multi-national firms to join I the fight against the disease.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Coordinator of Media Initiative Against HIV/AIDS, Mrs. Sogbeba Dokubo said the training workshop was aimed at encouraging journalists to get fully involved in the fight against the disease.

Mrs. Dokubo stated that the workshop was also aimed at enlightening journalists on how to report the disease effectively in order to avoid sensational stories.