No fewer than 1.6 million out of the 2 million folks dwelling with HIV in Nigeria are at present receiving remedy, the Director Basic of the Nationwide Company for the Management of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, has introduced.
Ilori made this declaration at a press convention in Abuja on Monday, forward of the 2024 World AIDS Day, themed “Take the Proper Path: Maintain HIV Response, Cease HIV Amongst Kids, and Finish AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.”
World AIDS Day is noticed globally on December 1st to lift consciousness about HIV and AIDS and to honour the lives affected by the epidemic.
Ilori defined that this 12 months’s commemoration would place particular emphasis on stopping AIDS amongst youngsters and elevating consciousness in regards to the sustainability and possession of the HIV response.
“Nigeria has an HIV prevalence charge of 1.4 per cent among the many normal inhabitants aged 15–64 years, with an estimated two million folks dwelling with HIV. About 1.6 million of them are at present on remedy,” she acknowledged. “The nation continues to face vital challenges in stopping mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”
The UNAIDS 2023 report reveals that roughly 160,000 youngsters aged 0–14 reside with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually. Regardless of progress, Nigeria’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission and paediatric HIV protection stays under 33 per cent, properly under the 95 per cent goal.
Ilori added that, following a complete knowledge evaluation in 2021, NACA joined a global initiative and developed the World Alliance Motion Plan to Finish AIDS in Kids.
She famous, “The plan is totally resourced, but protection continues to fall quick. To deal with this, the Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, not too long ago established a national-level acceleration committee to trace implementation. I’ve paid advocacy visits and inaugurated state committees in three states, participating straight with governors to help the launch and resourcing of comparable committees on the state stage, making certain that no youngster is born HIV constructive in Nigeria.”
She additional defined that NACA had been working with stakeholders in co-creating a sustainability roadmap to make sure the continuity of the HIV response within the occasion of donor help withdrawal. “This roadmap, amongst different issues, will be sure that Nigeria’s well being system stays safe, each when it comes to HIV and related ailments,” she mentioned.
The NACA boss additionally highlighted the company’s vital achievements in reworking Nigeria’s HIV response over the previous 12 months. “On this World AIDS Day, I name on all Nigerians to hitch palms with NACA to interrupt the stigma, embrace fairness, drive collective motion, and cease HIV amongst our kids,” she urged.
“We should empower each particular person, particularly ladies who’re most weak to contracting HIV, and different weak populations, to entry life-saving providers and reside with dignity,” she added. “Collectively, allow us to recommit to the imaginative and prescient of an AIDS-free Nigeria by 2030. Ending AIDS isn’t just a goal; it’s a testomony to our resolve, compassion, and unity as a nation.”
The Nation Director of UNAIDS, Leo Zekeng, emphasised the necessity for sustainability and renewed political dedication in Nigeria’s battle to finish AIDS by 2030.
“Sustainability means renewed political dedication and extra home sources. I do know the DG is working intently with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Well being to allocate extra sources from the federal government and the non-public sector to the AIDS response,” he mentioned.
The Chief Govt Officer of the Institute of Virology Nigeria, Dr Patrick Dakum, referred to as for sustained funding and progressive approaches to addressing the challenges forward.
“By our applications, together with the Nigeria TB-HIV Attain Integration and Impression Undertaking, we work intently with companions resembling NACA to combine HIV and TB providers, develop group outreach, and tackle the social determinants of well being that perpetuate inequalities,” he acknowledged.
PEPFAR Nigeria Nation Coordinator, Funmi Adesanya, highlighted the significance of increasing HIV prevention efforts and investing in resilient, inclusive healthcare methods. “None of this may be achieved with out partnership.
Authorities companies, civil society organisations, donors, and personal sector companions should align for useful resource mobilisation to contribute to the shared objective of ending AIDS by 2030,” she concluded.