Like many mother countries, Nigeria is striving to end AIDS as public health threat by 2030.
Currently, 1.8 million persons are estimated to be living with HIV in the country out of which about 1.63million are already on treatment.
However, the director-general of the National Agency for the Control Of AIDS (NACA), Dr Gambo Aliyu, said though Nigeria has made significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, there is still much to be done to achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The DG who stated this at a press briefing ahead of the World AIDS Day in Abuja, noted that the national average of mother-to-child transmission rate of 22 percent is driven by a large number of states with transmission rates above 25 percent nnd few states with rates below 15 percent.
According to him, Nigeria is responsible for about 30 percent of the world’s gap in Prevention of Mother- to- Child Transmission (PMTCT).
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World AIDS Day is commemorated every 1 December. It is an opportunity to highlight the work of eliminating HIV/AIDS.
Nigeria’s theme this year is ”Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030”.
Dr Gambo said “The commemoration of World AIDS Day is an opportunity to support global efforts to prevent new infections, increase HIV awareness and knowledge, support those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS as well as remember those who lost their lives due to the disease.”
He, therefore, expressed the federal government’s commitment to achieving the global target of ending AIDS in the country by 2030.
Acknowledging the contributions of communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dr. Gambo said “It is within these communities that we have found resilience, determination, and the will to make a difference. The strength of these communities has propelled us forward in our efforts to improve services and access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
“Community leadership encompasses people having common roles and responsibilities to take actions as leaders. These community leaders in all their diversities including policy makers, service providers, gatekeepers (traditional, religious, business/trade leaders etc.), women, men, young people and other vulnerable groups, civil society groups, people infected and affected by HIV, Key populations by their typology etc.
He called on all stakeholders to renew their dedication to the national HIV/AIDS response. “Let us bolster community-led initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and champion policies that uphold the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their HIV status,” he added.
The country director of UNAIDS, Leo Zekeng, said that the UN body is committed to continuous support to the federal government in eliminating HIV/AIDS.
Also, the chairman, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, Amobi Ogah, said the parliament was working towards increasing budgetary allocation to fight the disease in the country.
“We assure you that the National Assembly will work toward increasing budgetary allocation to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the face of limited resources.
“We will also provide the legislative framework to protect the rights of People Living with HIV and other forms of discrimination and stigmatisation.
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