By Emma-echiegu N. B.
A study, using survey design, was conducted to identify and evaluate care
and support systems for people living with HIVIAIDS (PLWHA) in Ebonyi State Nigeria. The study population used was all stakeholders In the provision of care and support for PLWHA and people affected by AIDS (PABA) in Ebonyi State. These include about 3000 staff of all the 24 government, 10 missions and 47 private hospitals in the state as well as the about 600 staff of NGO's and governmental agencies that are directly involved in care and support activities for people living with HIV/AIDS in the study area. Purposive sampling was used for the selection of the hospitals and the NGOs since the researcher had a foreknowledge of the agencies. Fifteen (15) establishments from the study area were used. This was considered enough to provide for geographic spread and inclusion of all relevant agencies that had been known to the researcher to be involved in HIV/AIDS related activities while keeping in view available resources and time frame. The establishments included three government hospitals, three mission hospitals, four private hospitals, three non-governmental organizations and two government agencies.