A non-governmental organization, Aids Health Foundation (AHF) has revealed that it now has two million people living with HIV/AIDS under its care across the 47 countries where it operates globally.
At an event in Abuja, the organization said the global program was launched over 20 years ago in two African countries (South Africa and Uganda) with 100 patients in each.
Country Program Director, AHF Nigeria, Dr. Echey Ijezie in his welcome address said AHF is proud to reach the historic milestone.
“We never imagined we’d one day be serving 2 million lives under our care around the world. Today, more than half of AHF’s 2 million lives receiving care are in Africa. The combination of medicine and advocacy – implementing prevention, care, and treatment programs and the support of government and other international donors have allowed us to reach this momentous achievement collectively.
“In 2011 when we berthed in Gbajimba, Benue state, Nigeria, we started with a zero patient base, but today, we have 29, 000 in care under the Nigeria program, many of them in very remote locations in Abuja, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross river, Kogi and Nasarawa states.
Ijezie stated further that with clinics and facilities spanning 47 countries worldwide in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, AHF has leveraged innovative healthcare delivery models to expand its reach and impact. “It reaches communities in need by providing comprehensive medical care, treatment, testing, prevention, and support services.
He maintained that AHF will continue its fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, while remaining steadfast in its commitment to advocating for access to HIV treatment and care for everyone who needs it and also partner in the national HIV/AIDS intervention.
Also speaking, Director of the Public Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike commended AHF, adding that government remains committed to improving health outcomes and unlocking the health sector value chain.
“We are excited to be working with AHF; one thing stands out – their robustness in getting to the hard-to-reach areas to support those living with the virus.
“We are excited about their intervention that has brought succour and hope for not just the people living with the virus, but other people as well,” he said.
On her part, Technical Officer, HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STI, WHO-Nigeria, Oluwafunke Odunkade, stressed the need to continue to ensure that all the people brought into care have optimum access to healthcare services.
“While we celebrate, we must be reminded that this is not the end. We still have the last hurdle to cross, and we can only achieve that by collaboratively rethinking our strategies.
“We are ensuring that HIV is fully mainstreamed into the health systems and not standing alone, and also ensuring that all the people that we brought into care have the optimum level of care.
Also speaking, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, National Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), said the more than 2 million persons in care treatment showed AHF’s commitment to ending the virus globally.
“Putting 2 million lives on treatment shows that we are moving towards ending AIDS in Nigeria and globally.
“Scientifically, we know that treatment is working and serves as a means of prevention.
“By this, it shows that AIDS is no longer a public threat, as people are living and accessing treatment and living a healthy life.”
