Kaduna — Cases of HIV/AIDs have dropped from 7.5 to 4.3 percent in Kaduna State because of the law mandating hoteliers to keep condoms in their hotels rooms, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Aids Control Agency, Patrick Katuka has said. Katuka told journalists yesterday that "We personally ask for condoms to be kept in hotels rooms so that people will request for it.

This we believe helps in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS infection in the state. We achieved great success in that regard because Kaduna state, because of its population, has always been ranked above every other state in the north when it comes to HIV/AIDS cases. Today, we are happy that the rate has reduced drastically.

"70 percent of the new infection is among married couples. Ordinarily, people assume that new infection comes from the singles. When we found out, we change our strategy which reveals that the 70 percent have drop to 45 percent. We are waiting for the new research that will come up in the first quarter of next year and from what we have gathered, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS will reduce drastically in the state.

"The stigma has reduced and there is a policy that no employer will discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDs. Many people especially in the rural areas are more aware of AIDS because of partnership we have with both traditional and religious leaders."