By Vincent Aluu

The government of the United States of America has been urged to reconsider its stance on the visa policy recently launched, especially as it affects Akwa Ibom indigenes. The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel made this plea while playing host to the Deputy Chief of Missions of the United States Embassy, Nigeria, Ms.Kathleen FitzGibbon and the Deputy Chief of Missions of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ms. Katie Donohoe at his country home in Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area.

The Onna Born world class banker turned politician recalled with sense of fulfillment the various collaborations between United States and the Akwa Ibom State government saying that most people from his state have genuine business transactions in the United States. He therefore urged the US government to have a rethink and exclude indigenes of the states from the visa restriction policy.

The State Number one citizen also sued for more transparent and collaborative partnership between international donor agencies and the Akwa Ibom State Government in the budgeting and implementation of health awareness and sensitization campaigns in the state. Udom said partnering relevant agencies of the state government will engender accountability and forestall duplication of efforts and unnecessary waste of huge resources with minimal results. He noted that in the last ten years, USAID has invested huge amount of money on HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

He expressed the appreciation of the Akwa Ibom State government to the US missions for their invaluable contributions towards ensuring that the state is safe against various diseases. He pledged the State Government’s preparedness in embarking on enlightenment campaigns to reduce HIV related stigma and provision of other resources including rapid test kits.

The Deputy Chief of Missions U. S Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon had earlier thanked the Governor for playing host to her team amidst tight schedules noting that the visit was to inform the Governor of the assistance provided by the US government in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She called for more synergy to ensure that the state has zero tolerance for stigmatization of people living with the virus thus ensuring greater access to quality anti-retroviral drugs that would sustain life and also prevent the spread of the disease. She called on the state government to enact anti-stigma law to reduce HIV related stigma in the state. She also hinted that her government has donated a mega PCR Laboratory which required Medical Lab Scientists from the state for effective services.

The Deputy chief of Missions also used the occasion of the visit to condole the Governor and family over the demise of their father and prayed for the eternal repose of the soul of Late Elder Gabriel Nkanang. She urged the family to take solace in the fact that the departed patriarch lived a memorable life and should ensure that those worthy legacies he lived for stands the test of time.

Those who also attended the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Patrick Essiet, Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof Enefiok Essien SAN, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral & Donor Agencies, Mr Ndiana-Abasi Udom and management of related international agencies in the state, Dr. Nkereuwem Etok – Programme Manager, Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AKSACA), among others.