The United States Agency for International Development (USAid), says it has identified and placed no fewer than 25,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS on life saving treatment in Edo State.

Dolapo Ogundehin, USAid Care and Treatment Team Lead in Nigeria has disclosed this in Benin, Edo State capital, during a courtesy visit to the wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, at the Government House.

Ogundehin who spoke on some projects embarked on by the agency in Edo State, commended the State for its support over the past 18 years it has operated in the State.

According to him, “We still have 17,000 people who are yet to be diagnosed and placed on treatment.”

“Sadly, we also have over 6,500 of them as children. This is a cause for us to do more in order to avert a disaster in the long run.

“We are focused on the mother-to-children transmission; we are working on orphans and vulnerable children in the state,” she added.

Edo First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, while speaking earlier, lauded USAid for its various intervention programmes in the state.

She applauded the agency’s commitment to the welfare of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the State.

She said, “I am very pleased and impressed with the work USAid is doing in alleviating the pains of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world, Nigeria and particularly, in Edo.

“Your support for those who need help and the less-privileged is highly commendable. We appreciate you for the intervention and collaboration the agency is bringing to our people in Nigeria to help us govern better and deliver what it is supposed to deliver to its people.”

“Your organization is known to operate with very high integrity. You are a very reliable partner to work with at any time for any project. We value your collaboration, your partnerships and your intervention and recognize what you have done so far in our state,” she noted.

The Edo first lady however, assured that the State Government through her office will continue to provide the agency and all its implementing partners the required support and assistance to enable them succeed and implement projects across the State.