Ayobami Agboola 
Disturbed by the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Osun State, United States Consul General, Will Stevens has called for intensified efforts in the fight against the virus in the state. New Telegraph reports that 29,936 persons are living with HIV/AIDS as at December 2022 in Osun State. The US Consul General spoke at the official launching of the state HIV Treatment Surge organised by Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) at the state secretariat in Osogbo, yesterday. Stevens called for the collaboration of the state government, medical practitioners and non-governmental organisations for the actualisation of an HIV/AIDS free state.
He stressed the need to conduct more HIV tests to reach out to those who do not know their status yet, adding that the purpose of the surge launch is to reach out to more people and ensure that carriers of the virus commence treatment immediately. He decried the fact that more than 13,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS in the state are yet to commence treatment, calling for a massive outreach to them.