Posted on: Fri 04-12-2015

World AIDS Day is a day dedicated to raise awareness about AIDS, the global spread of the HIV Virus, ensuring of universal treatment and indeed care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The theme for the world AIDS Day 2015 is “Getting to Zero” with the aim of achieving “Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) will focus on the Prevention, Adherence and Treatments and indeed health promotion. It is time to understand that getting to Zero is a must.

Imagine that according  to the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) Gap Report 2014,9% of all people living with HIV live in Nigeria, however, HIV prevalence among adults is remarkably small (3.2% ) compared to South Africa (19.1% ) and Zambia (12.5% ). Again approximately 210,000 people died from AIDS – related illnesses, 220,000 new HIV infections in Nigeria in 2013 and since 2005 there has been no reduction in the number of annual deaths which shows fundamental problem of accessing the Antiretroviral treatment in the country.

As pharmacists and society we will continue to participate in promoting the HIV/AIDS initiatives of the Federal Government, UNAIDS and World Health Organisation, facilitate collaboration between pharmacists, professional associations, health care professionals and development partners involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS as pharmacists can play great roles not only in Adherence and treatment but in all aspects of public health.

In September, 2014, new UNAIDS “Fast Track” targets called for the dramatic scaling up of HIV prevention and treatment programmes to avert 28 million global new infections and end the epidemic as a public health issue by 2030. UNAIDS also launched the ambitious 90-90-90 targets which aim for 90% of people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 90% to be accessing antiretroviral treatment and 90% to achieve suppression by 2020. All hands must be on deck to achieve these targets and as pharmacists, we are ever ready to be fully involved.

On this world AIDS day, December 1st, 2015, let us join hands on the fast track to end AIDS.

The fast track approach as defined by UNAIDS includes

1. Front-Loads investments
2. Focuses on the locations, populations, and programmes that deliver the greatest impact.
3. Catalyses innovation for people who need it most.
4. Engages local leadership for targeted, sustained and accountable responses.
5. Creates new partnerships
6. Stands firms on human rights
7. Delivers result that leaves no one behind.

Fast-track will change the lives of millions of people around the world. We have a fragile window of opportunity-just five years to break the epidemic.

The world is on the first-track to end AIDS epidemic by 2020 as part of the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) will require investment, commitment and innovation to be accelerated.

Together we can stop AIDS Epidemic. And there is hope and one day there will be celebration of hope when we get to Zero. This day is also dedicated to commemorate those who have passed on.

Wishing all a wonderful 2015 World AIDS Day.

Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai FPSN, FNAPharm, FNIM

 President,

 Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)

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