Nigeria vows to end AIDS by 2030

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Presidency say the Federal Government has vowed to end the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Nigeria by 2030.

This was as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume unveiled the national strategic framework 2023 to 2027 and the symbol of a new business model for sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu, and SGF Akume disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja in commemoration of World AIDS Day.

NACA had last Friday revealed that 1.8 million persons are estimated to be living with HIV in Nigeria, out of which about 1.63 million are already on the lifesaving medication of Antiretroviral Therapy.

The PUNCH reports that WAD is marked yearly on December 1, and it is a day set aside to support global efforts to prevent new infections, increase HIV awareness and knowledge, support those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS as well as remember those who lost their lives due to the disease.

With this year’s theme; “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030,” NACA urged communities to unite in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Speaking on Friday, Aliyu said, “I welcome you all to the 2023 World AIDS Day with the theme ‘Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030’. The theme acknowledges the essential role of community leadership in our last mile push to ending AIDS by 2030.

“Leadership communities of persons living with HIV, key affected populations, women, adolescent and young persons; policy makers, religious, traditional and political leaders, civil society organizations, development partners, organized private sector, the general public and our media society to mention a few, have critical roles to ending social, cultural, legal and economic inequalities holding back progress to ending AIDS and elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV,”

He noted that over the last four years and especially during the period of the COVID-19 epidemic, Nigeria has demonstrated tremendous capacity for HIV case identification at community level, adding that Nigeria’s HIV response was the most COVID-19 resilient globally. He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.

He added, “As the country continues to make commendable progress towards achieving epidemic control necessary to end AIDS by 2030, we are also mindful of the fact that ending AIDS comes with a huge challenge of sustainability of the control.

“To overcome this challenge, The Government of Nigeria, United States Government, UNAIDS and the Global Fund initiated an alignment programme aimed at ensuring country ownership and sustainability of national response beyond 2030.

“As we remember those who died from AIDS, celebrate our surviving heroes and soldiers fighting the battle against the disease on a daily basis, it is important to note that achieving an AIDS free society is possible if we join hands to demand for HIV services, support persons infected to access services and end all forms of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his incredible political leadership of the renewed hope agenda which plans to end inequality where no one is left behind. The SGF Sir, NACA appreciates the President’s commitment to support the treatment of more people living with HIV/AIDS from domestic resources.

“Your Excellencies, Nigeria can end AIDS before 2030 with support of our community leaders. We can end stigma and discrimination, we can ensure no babies in our communities are born with HIV; Yes, we can. We did it with Ebola, we repeated with COVID-19 and we can do it with HIV because we are Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, SGF Akume noted that Nigeria joins the world in support of the global effort to end AIDS by the year 2030 and to remember those who lost their lives due to AIDS.

The SGF also unveiled the national strategic framework 2023 to 2027 and the symbol of a new business model for sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.

Akume said, “I must commend the National Agency for the Control of AIDS for its commitment and leadership to end AIDS as a public health threat in our country. The administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to ending AIDS by the year 2030 and will ensure no one is left behind in providing access to HIV services across the country. A sustainable HIV response is part of the renewed hope agenda of this administration.

“NACA in collaboration with the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS recently launched a sixty-two billion Naira private sector-driven HIV/AIDS Trust Fund of Nigeria. This is yet another unique achievement in Sub-Saharan Africa. We call on the organized private sector to ensure the private business community delivers on its pledge to support the Government effort to achieve an HIV free generation where no baby is born with HIV in Nigeria.

“We recognize the invaluable contributions of communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is within these communities that we have found resilience, determination, and the will to make a difference. The strength of these communities has propelled us towards achieving the global goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

“Nigeria aligns fully with global solidarity and shared responsibilities which requires us to view global health responses in a new way, The government of “Renewed Hope” of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to sustaining the President’s initiative to treat more HIV patients annually using resources mobilized locally.

“I am happy to note that the key strategy for sustainability and country ownership of HIV to be launched today indicates a pivotal commitment towards ending AIDS by 2030 and beyond, with states providing leadership.

“I therefore encourage the state governments to key into this agenda for ownership for sustainable HIV response in Nigeria. I equally acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding support and commitment of the United Nations, Government and people of the United States of America, and the Global Funds for their unflinching support over the years to keep people living with HIV alive in Nigeria.”

SOURCE: PUNCH

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *