Posted on: Fri 29-11-2024

National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has said that HIV coverage for pediatrics, as well as Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) in Nigeria is very poor, and that could significantly threaten the 2030 national and global target for the disease.

NACA Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, stated this at a press conference in Abuja, to herald 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 expressed concern about the development, and challenged all stakeholders, including the key populations under the umbrella of Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), to rise to the occasion.

She said: “Nigeria has HIV prevalence of 1.4 per cent among general population, 15-64 years, with an estimated two million people living with HIV.  Sadly, the country continues to face a significant challenge in preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

“The UNAIDS 2023 report shows that approximately 160,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV, with 22.000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring each year.

“But despite country progress, our PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage remains below 33 per cent which is well below the 95 per cent target. Following comprehensive data analysis in 2021, we joined the international initiative to develope the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children. The plan is fully resourced, but sadly, coverage continues to fall short.

“To address this, the Minister of State for Health recently established a national-level acceleration committee to track implementation, and I have paid advocacy visits and inaugurated State committees in three states, engaging directly with three governors to support the launch, and resourcing of a similar committee at the state level, ensuring that no child is born HIV positive in Nigeria.

This will go round the 36 States and FCT in due course.”

The NACA boss, however, explained that theme of 2024 World AIDS Day is both a call to action and a roadmap for achieving the future envisioned for Nigeria which a country free of AIDS, where no child is born with HIV, and no family is left behind.

PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Fummi Adesanya, who was represented by Emerson Evan, in her remarks, said the collective journey in the HIV response has been remarkable, confirming that Nigeria has reduced new infections and AIDS-related deaths significantly, and the road ahead in clear sustainability should drive the intervention.

She added: “We must think about sustaining the gains that we have made over the last 21 years in maintaining people on treatment and making sure that the rates of new infection decreased.”

Meanwhile, there were commitments from other relevant stakeholders including UNAIDS, IHVN, NASCP, and  the community of people of people living with HIV/AIDS under the platform of NEPWHAN.

SOURCE: DAILY SUN NEWSPAPER

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