Ado-Ekiti — No fewer than 292 persons have so far tested positive to the HIV virus in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The Head of Ido-Osi Local Government Action Committee on AIDS, Mrs Modupe Ajayi, made this public in Ido-Ekiti on Friday.

She said the figure represented the sum total of reports made available to her by field officers attached to the committee.

Ajayi also said more than 5, 620 persons were also counseled and later tested, out which 37 pregnant women, 73 males and 146 females tested positive.

She said those who tested positive had already been referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, for confirmation of their status and subsequent treatment.

According to her, officials of her committee now pay advocacy visits to institutions such as Oganganmodu Grammer School, Ido-Ekiti, Corpers's Secretariat, Ido-Ekiti and Victory Orphanage, Ifaki-Ekiti.

Mr Taiwo Benson, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Community, Family Health and Rights Development in Ekiti, appealed to government to increase the budget of the State AIDS Control Agency to enable it effectively combat the pandemic.

(NAN)