A a non-profit organisation, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme, has disclosed that it is currently supporting treatment for over 300,000 HIV/AIDS patients as it is also committed to improving education in the country.
During the event to mark the organization’s 24 years of service in Uyo on Friday, it disclosed these achievements while addressing journalists.
According to the Executive Director in Akwa Ibom State, Andy Eyo, not less than 142,000 HIV patients are receiving treatment in Akwa Ibom State alone.
He added that close to 200 healthcare facilities, including secondary healthcare facilities, across the state have benefited from the group in the last 24 years in terms of training and infrastructure.
“Recently, as we speak, we are supporting over 300,000 people on drugs for HIV/AIDS with support from the American people and global funds.
“In Akwa Ibom State alone, we are supporting over 142,000 of these patients and, because of this resource, they are able to stay on their medication, live a normal life and contribute to the state economy.
“The organisation, through the healthcare sector in Akwa Ibom State, is supporting close to 200 healthcare facilities in the 31 LGAs, including secondary healthcare facilities, with training and infrastructure.
“We are supporting digital health all-in-one system high-tech computers.
“We are excited to bring power, renewable power, to our health sector; we are happy to bring internet access to our healthcare sector; we are happy to bring high-quality services driven by science and evidence. For us in ECEWS, the future awaits us. We are really investing a lot in digital health and digital education to ensure that the future does not meet us unprepared.
“ECEWS has over 1,600 support staff in Akwa Ibom State alone who are being paid at least N150,000 per month, thus contributing to reducing unemployment in the state.
Reaffirming the groups commitment to improved education, Eyo said they are partnering with the Bank of Industry to commence the renovation of schools across Akwa Ibom.
“For us in ECEWS, we believe education is a right. Today, we are having a partnership with BOI to begin renovations of schools, and renovating some of these schools has been quite a pleasure: to see those old buildings come back to life, to see more children being able to come back to schools and access the much-needed education,” he said.
On agriculture, the director also stated that ECEWS is on the way to ensure that people eat locally grown foods.
