FCTA Empowers More Vulnerable PLWHA In Abuja

By: Shaka Sunday, Dominic Idio & Blessing Umoru

To reduce poverty and give a sense of belonging to the vulnerable people, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has stepped up its empowerment drive to assist select members of People Living With HIV/Aids (PLWHA) from different support groups in the Territory.

The Administration has distributed several income generating equipment to select FCT residents living with HIIV/AIDS at the Area 10 Headquarters of the Social Development Secretariat.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Ibrahim Aminu, commended the FCT Minister and FCT Minister of State, Barr. Nyesom Wike and Dr. Mariya Mahmud, respectively, for displaying uncommon commitments towards the plight of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the FCT, through timely release of intervention funds for HIV support programmes in the Territory.

Aminu stated that the Secretariat through its HIV Unit has been organizing several training & skills acquisition programmes for the vulnerable, indigent People Living With HIV/AIDS; Community Based Organizations and various Support Groups across the Territory.

According to him, at the end of the trainings, starter packs/equipments are given to participants to jump-start a more meaningful and purposeful-driven life through income generatiing venture.

He noted that the day’s empowerment was 5th in the series of the initiative for 2023.

The Secretary said it may be difficult to eradicate HIV virus in the Territory, if empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS is not given utmost priority, but identified poverty as one of the factors that leads to risk-taking behaviours which may expose one to contracting the HIV virus.

He encouraged residents of FCT to go for the free HIV testing in the FCTA’s hospitals to ascertain their status; admonishing that those who test positive should go to a Counsellor for necessary advice and commencement of treatment.

Aminnu revealed that previous empowerment programmes organized by the Administration, have yielded the desired results.

His words: “I am glad to inform you that those empowered in the previous months have been able to maximize profit from their starter packs to the level of empowering others, as some of them are here to share their success stories.”

“This shows that the Administration is really doing well and the results are beginning to manifest for everyone to see and accept that we are into serious business as a government institution”, he added.

Abuja Digest reports that beneficiaries drawn from different support groups within the FCT went home with either a motorized grinding machine, vulcanizing machines or sewing machines according to their business needs.