The Secretary to the Government of the Federal, Boss Mustapha has called on State governments across the federation to take the lead in building partnerships in the fight against HIV/AIDS epidemic so as to accelerate the national response to the disease.
He stated this at the presentation of the stewardship of HIV Response in Nigeria 2007-2022 at the National Agency for the Control of Aids headquarters Abuja.
Boss while reiterating the federal government’s commitment to achieving zero tolerance to HIV and other related diseases calls for greater impacts by all actors to boost sustainability.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) was established on February 22, 2007, to enhance case detection of affected persons with quality treatment to avoid the continuous spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.
It is fifteen years down the line since
Examining the agency’s role in sustaining the fight against HIV /AIDS.
However, these experts say the strategies put has brought tremendous achievements bringing to a total of 1.8million patients on treatment, thus making the country closer to epidemic control and sustainability.
“Notable milestones achieved by NACA under this administration include: landmark HIV survey which showed fewer Nigerians were living with HIV and the most likely geographic locations to find them; more than 1 million persons living with HIV were identified and placed on treatment within the last 6 years and recently.
I must emphasize the importance of greater impact. It is in this regard that I call on State governments to take their rightful place in this partnership as we develop a sustainability framework for the national response.”
Earlier, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Aliyu Gambo while highlighting the achievements stresses that Nigeria has made significant progress in achieving the UNAID’S target, hence expressed optimism that the agency will build more on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) to ensure that no child is born HIV positive in the country.
“Our strategies in program alignment by all stakeholders, service integration at community levels, and strong political support at all levels made our national response the most COVID-19 resilient in the world with the highest yield at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic
As we approach epidemic control, we need to end all forms of inequality, leave no one behind as well as ensure inclusive implementation of our programs at community levels if we must sustain the gains made in the last 6 years.”
Meanwhile, Global Fund Country Portfolio Manager, Dr. Jean Thomas pledges continuous collaboration with the government to achieve the UN declaration of ending AIDS by 2030, thus advocating for both national and domestic resources to accelerate gain.
“The Global Fund is investing in Nigeria a total of US$1.17 billion dollars.
This is an amount that Global Fund has ever invested in a single country.
Out of this amount, 328 million is allocated to the fight against HIV, and this fund is managed by NACA.
We want to say that the country needs a great mobilization of resources not only national resources but domestic resources with more focus on sustainability, and country ownership.
I want to state that Global Fund will continue to play its role to mobilize more resources to encourage not only NACA but the Nigeria Population to access more health, more HIV.”
Also speaking the US Embassy Charge D’ Affairs Kathleen Fitzgibbon harps on the need to collaborate in the fight against the epidemic to meet the targeted population living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
“Together we’re supporting 1.7million people on treatment in Nigeria, 95% of those people have suppressed the viral boat.
Why is that important, the control of the epidemic depends on the infection not being spreading to the people, so if you suppress the viral boat It means you can no longer transmit the disease to another person, this is why it is so critical that we continue to keep people on treatment?
Since its inception, development partners have been at the forefront in the Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, it is against this backdrop that experts are seeking a more resilient approach particularly as 2030 is a few years away from attaining the UN target.
