Bayelsa APC Accuses Governor Dickson Of Abandoning People Living With HIV/AIDS

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State on Tuesday lamented that the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has abandoned People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the state.

The party in a statement issued by the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), the campaign outfit of APC’s candidate in this Saturday’s governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, raised the alarm on the poor state of welfare of the PLWHA.

The statement was issued as part of activities to mark the World AIDS Day.

According to the statement signed by SICO’s Director, Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, the World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the HIV/AIDS scourge around the world.

The statement said it was disturbing that the Dickson administration stri*ped “these people” in reference to PLWHA of the benefits they enjoyed under the previous governments of DSP Alamieyeseigha, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva.

It said: “The All Progressives Congress will like to identify with these set of people to help encourage them to live a meaningful life, as we believe they all deserve our love and care.

“The Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation however, notes with dismay the fact that the Government of Seriake Dickson willfully abandoned the PLWA, by stopping their monthly stipends and supply of anti-retroviral drugs just as he refused to fund any HIV campaigns since 2012.

“During the tenure of Chief Timipre Sylva, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, as Governor, the People Living With HIV/AIDS enjoyed the best of support from government.

“Then Governor Sylva, did not only give monthly stipends, but provided free Anti-Retroviral drugs for their medical maintenance with full support to the state SACA”.

Egba, however, assured that the governorship and deputy-governorship candidates of the APC in the Dec. 5 election, when elected, would restore all the statutory benefits the PLWA had been denied by the Dickson administration.