Federal Government Seeking Partnerships To End AIDS By 2030

TOGETHER with Caritas Nigeria and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Nigeria, the Federal Government has pushed for shared accountability from medical professionals and implementation partners in order to eradicate AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.

Temitope Ilori, the director-general of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), made this request at the 4th Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Nigeria's bi-annual Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja. She emphasized that there is still work to be done to eradicate AIDS as a significant public health issue in Nigeria. 

Ilori stated that much work needs to be done before achieving national HIV sustainability and that the government depends on stakeholders' regular support in its efforts to reach the last mile. 

“The vision for the health sector renewal by the Honourable Ministers of Health and Social Welfare brings into perspective several pieces of effor that are designed to produce health and reduce pain sustainably for all Nigerians.

“This goal is pivoted upon four main pillars, which are: effective governance; efficient, equitable, and quality health system; unlocking value chain and Health Security. Specifically for the HIV. Response, this translates to collectively achieving a domestic- driven HIV response that is sustainable, effective, and efficient.

“NACA remains the government agency mandated with the responsibility of coordinating the multisectoral response to HIV and related diseases. This, we will continue to do under the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Health for State, Dr Tunji Alausa. In the next few weeks, I will be inviting you to share my vision of how together we will achieve this,” he said.

Dr. Alausa, the state minister for health and social welfare, praised the CDC for its ongoing assistance to 22 states across the nation. 

“It is indeed an enviable partnership, especially considering the areas of focus for intervention. These areas are central to the well- being of the country and cuts across all the levels of care. Addressing disease outbreak preparedness, immunizations and HIV epidemic is laudable feat. I am glad that the project is making good progress.

“This is because despite epidemiological transition being experienced in many developing countries, infectious diseases and outbreaks are not completely tamed and have the tendency to complicate non-communicable diseases thereby affecting general population morbidity. A clear example is the COVID-19 Pandemic which had severe negative impact on our population with co- morbidities such hypertensive, diabetics.

“As we all know, health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. We consider it a fundamental human right, and every citizen it is imperative that eve has access to quality healthcare services that is affordable and without discrimination,” he said.

He referred to the current administration's Renewed Hope Health Agenda as evidence of its steadfast commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of every Nigerian.