The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has called on people living with HIV to remain committed to their prescribed medications to maintain good health and help Nigeria achieve control of the HIV epidemic.
IHVN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, who stated this in Abuja, reiterated that HIV services, including testing, treatment, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission, are provided free of charge across many public and private health facilities in the country.
Dr. Dakum stressed the importance of treatment adherence, noting that free HIV services are currently available in more than 380 IHVN-supported health facilities across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Rivers States.
He said ths services include free HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults and children, laboratory services for diagnosis and monitoring, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) for pregnant women.
“At present, over 238,000 individuals receive free antiretroviral treatment in IHVN-supported health facilities, and at no time were these life-saving services disrupted,” he added.
IHVN, supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continues to sustain essential HIV services in collaboration with the Nigerian government.
Dr. Dakum also emphasised the availability of comprehensive prevention services, including free Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-negative pregnant and breastfeeding women, and free Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for individuals recently exposed to the virus.
On community engagement, Dr. Dakum highlighted IHVN’s initiatives to expand HIV services and prevent mother-to-child transmission through partnerships with faith-based organisations and community leaders. These include Group Mothers’ Love Gatherings, which provide health services and support to pregnant and nursing mothers, and Peer Mentor Mother Programs, which empower women living with HIV to support one another.
He noted that these community-focused programs have enabled caregivers and vulnerable groups, including children, adolescents, and young adults, to receive comprehensive care packages and interventions that improve adherence, nutrition, and overall quality of life.
He commended the Nigerian government’s increasing ownership of HIV programmes, citing notable developments such as the inclusion of people living with HIV in health insurance schemes, local production of HIV test kits, and the forthcoming introduction of the HIV preventive injectable, Lenacapavir.
Dr. Dakum urged continued collaboration among government agencies, civil society, people living with HIV, and the media to sustain progress and achieve national epidemic control.
