Worry over 1.8m HIV/AIDS patients as foreign donors withdraw support

• Rep seeks additional N25b for NACA to fight scourge
ABOUT 1.8 million Nigerians infected with the Human Immuno Deficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are at the risk of dying this year due to the decision by the United States of America (USA) and donor agencies to stop supply of anti retroviral treatment (ART) drugs.

A member of the House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, Mr. Afe Olowokere said this yesterday while commenting on the budgetary vote for the infectious disease in the 2016 Budget before the Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin-led House Committee on Appropriation.

The lawmaker remarked that such fears were borne out of the fact that the United States (US) and donor agencies have already withdrawn their 95 percent support, which ensures availability of ART drugs and sundry support services to infected Nigerians over the years.

Claiming that the support was withdrawn apparently because of Nigeria’s refusal to embrace the gay marriage policy, which was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari, the lawmaker lamented that of NACA budgetary proposal of N18 billion in 2016, only N1.4 billion was allocated to fund NACA’s projects.

Olowokere pointed out that the amount was a significant reduction from the N10 billion given to NACA last year to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS services in Taraba and Abia States under the defunct SURE-P programme, he enjoined the House Appropriation Committee to come to the rescue of infected Nigerians by approving an additional sum of N25 billion to NACA to enable it cater for the needs of those infected with the virus this year.

He revealed, “The US government and the Global Fund are responsible for about 95 percent of the National HIV/AIDS treatment programme and because Nigeria is not in support of gay marriage, the American government has scaled down its services in the 737 councils in Nigeria.

In addition, it has withdrawn support for laboratory services, which people living with HIV on ART required to periodical monitoring of his state of health.

“Nigeria and the rest of the global AIDS community have adopted the 90-90-90 target by 2030 and to achieve this, the government of Nigeria has to put money into the national response to AIDS, otherwise we will have another wave of HIV/Aids epidemic in the country,” the Rep warned.