Aisha Buhari seeks removal of user fee for childcare services

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has pledged her commitment to ensure that campaign to end mother-to-child HIV transmission in the country by 2030 bear fruit. 

She advocated the removal of user fee for anti-natal and childcare services and increase funding for the health sector.

The First Lady made this pledge at the launch of Nigeria free to shine campaign against childhood AIDS in Abuja, adding that the campaign was a product of the commitment of African first ladies to see the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2030.

According to her, for the fact that Nigeria is having the second largest HIV epidemic in the world, it became more pertinent to launch the campaign at this time.

“At 20th session of the general assembly of the organisations of African First Lady Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), all first ladies committed themselves to the launch of free to shine campaign with the aim to end childhood AIDS in Africa by 2030 and keep mothers healthy.

“The campaign is aimed at uniting people and organisations at local and global levels, to advance healthcare delivery that will contribute to ending childhood AIDS

“As an HIV ambassador, I have more reasons to ensure that this happens. My vision in this campaign is to end childhood death in Nigeria and keep mothers healthy and this will be achieved through several programmes,” she said.

Mrs. Buhari said based on the number of agencies dealing with HIV/AIDS in the country, Nigeria does not need the help of foreign agencies and donors to tackle the epidemic if resources are well utilised and called on relevant stakeholders to join the campaign team in the reduction of HIV, especially among mother and children.