From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has disclosed that, currently, 1.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria are on its Antiretroviral treatment out of over 1.8 million people that are living with the disease in Nigeria.
The Agency added that its target is to ensure that more cases are detected and brought into treatment pool, so they can lack the powers to transmit the virus to another person(s), thus achieving the 2030 global HIV target.
NACA Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, disclosed the information at a press conference in Abuja, to mark the 2024 World AIDS Day, with the theme “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV Among Children to End AIDS in Nigeria by 2030”.
She said the government is intensifying finding, testing and enrolment of new patients into the treatment platform, thus asking all stakeholders including the key populations, to assist in the sensitization.
She said the 2018 HIV/AIDS survey has helped to provide a clearer data and guide for the response against the disease. “We have not been able to conduct another survey on HIV/AIDS because of funding, but we are doing something close to that in the states to have a good and updated knowledge of the HIV in Nigeria.”
Dr. Ilori further told journalists that the 2024 World AIDS Day will be another opportunity to raise global awareness and consciousness of local and global leaders to the commitment to 2030 global target for HIV, and the need for improved funding and support.
Ibrahim Abdulkadir, President of the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), in his remarks, appreciated the work that had been done by NACA and its partners including the UNAIDS, PEPFAR, and others.
He confirmed that the Association has enjoyed some financial support from the Global Fund to the tune of $11 million, which has been used to amplify sensitization and empowerment of NEPWHAN members.
