The Cross River State Agency for the Control of Aids (SACA) is yet to receive any funding for its work this year, the Director General of the agency, Irene Aniyom, said in Calabar yesterday.
Ms Aniyom, who spoke during a forum on Enhancing Nigerian Response (ENR), organised by the BBC for journalists in Calabar, said the non-release of budgeted funds has greatly affected the agency's programmes.
"There are about 54 HIV/AIDS counselling and screening centres in the 18 local government areas of the state, but how to monitor their activities has become difficult," she said.
In 2005, the state led in the HIV/AIDS infectious chart in the country, by 12.5%. But following an aggressive campaign by the state government on sexual abstinence and the use of preventive methods, it fell to 6.1% in 2007. Now, its has risen to 8%, she said.
"Before now, people were not ready to come out for testing and counselling", she said.
SACA is working with over 205 civil society organizations and 18 Local Action Committees on Aids (LACA).