Fight HIV transmission among children, FG tells states

Reaffirms commitment to ending HIV by 2030 
Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and called on state governments and the private sector to scale up interventions aimed at preventing HIV transmission among children.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who made the call at an event organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to mark the 2024 World AIDS Day, yesterday, in Abuja, noted that with an estimated two million people living with HIV in the country, it was critical to reposition the HIV response to meet the needs of vulnerable groups.

He emphasised the need to address the social, cultural, and economic barriers that hindered access to healthcare services for women and children.

Salako observed that the government had taken a step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS by ensuring that HIV would be fully integrated into the sector-wide approach (SWAp), which would help to ensure that all resources were aligned with national health priorities that could lead HIV response with full government ownership and accountability.

The minister stressed the need to sustain the momentum in the fight against HIV&AIDS in the country and commended NACA for the significant strides made so far in its mandate to coordinate the multi-sectoral responses to HIV/AIDS.

He said: “Through NACA’s good coordination of the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to HIV/AIDS, Nigeria has been able to expand access to testing and treatment, comprehensive prevention programmes, and reduce stigma and discrimination.

“On this 2024 World AIDS Day, let us renew our commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria. Together, we can build a healthier, more inclusive future for all. Let us recommit ourselves to this noble cause. The path to ending AIDS in Nigeria by 2030 is clear. Let us walk this path with determination, unity, and purpose, ensuring that future generations will live in a world free of HIV,” he added.

In his remarks, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said that human rights violations and abuse had continued to undermine the progress towards the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.

Fall stated that commitment to human rights, including gender equality, equitable access to affordable prevention and treatment tools and sustainable financing were essential for ending AIDS as a public health threat.

In her welcome address, the Director General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, said the World AIDS Day offered a moment to reflect on the progress, address challenges and strengthen our efforts in the ongoing fight against HIV.

Ilori noted that despite advancements, challenges persist, especially among marginalised communities, adding that the agency was placing special emphasis on stopping AIDS among children and raising consciousness on sustainability and ownership of the HIV response.