The Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has announced free medical treatment for all persons living with Human Immune Virus (HIV) in the state.

Governor Emeka Ihedioha announced this during the official launch of Antiretroviral Therapy, Surge Response in Owerri, warning that any government employee who violated the directive will face commensurate sanction.

“All fees previously charged by government medical establishments for the treatment of HIV is hereby banned. Any government official or employee of government that violates this directive would face commensurate sanction,” Ihedioha said.

While saying that the just-released prevalence rate, which placed the state above the 1.4 per cent was most disturbing, Ihedioha also promised that the state remained committed to identifying the unidentified 38,000 persons said to living with the virus.

“We are saddened with the statistics of the prevalence rate in the state. We are fully committed to identifying the 38,000 persons said to be living with HIV, and enlisting them for treatment,” Ihedioha added.