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Nigeria steps up preparations for UN meeting on ending AIDS

By Victoria Ojugbana
05 April 2016   |   1:49 am
Following the official visit of the UNAIDS Executive Director and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé, to Nigeria in February, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS...

UNAIDS

Following the official visit of the UNAIDS Executive Director and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé, to Nigeria in February, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS is stepping up efforts to ensure that the country’s leadership participates in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Ending AIDS.

The meeting will hold in New York, United States, from June 8 to 10, 2016.

Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko, said: “NACA recognises the importance of the upcoming High Level Meeting to the global goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. My team is working hard to ensure that Nigeria contributes to preparations for the meeting and that the highest political leadership possible represents it during the meeting.

“The upcoming meeting offers a timely and critical opportunity for the political leadership in Nigeria to help nurture the global partnership and cooperation that shall guide and monitor the AIDS response up to 2021 and beyond,” Prof. Idoko said.

During his successful official visit to Nigeria in February, Sidibé explained the importance of High Level Meeting to the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and appealed to the Nigerian authorities to play a leadership role in it.

He made similar appeals during meetings with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; the Minister, Budget and Planning, Senator Udo Udoma; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; members of the National Assembly, Prof. Idoko; the donor community, the private sector and the civil society.

The which meeting shall review the progress achieved in realising the implementation of the Political Declarations of 2011, including successes, lessons learned, obstacles and gaps, as well as challenges and opportunities, will also adopt a new political declaration to guide the AIDS response until 2021.

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