The Nigeria government has reaffirmed its commitment to putting an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by the year 2030. This was expressed during the World Aids Day which is commemorated on 1st December every year to honour the people who have died due to infection by the disease or those who are living with it (PLWHIV). 


Speaking at the 2024 World AIDS Day (WAD) event in Abuja, tagged “Take the Rights Path: Sustain the HIV Response and Stop HIV Among Children to End AIDS in Nigeria by 2030,” the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako highlighted the Federal Government’s resolve to leave no child behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

According to Salako the government has fully integrated HIV response into a Sector Wide Approach (SWAP), aimed at boosting accountability and ensuring all resources are aligned with the nation’s priorities.

“With a current HIV prevalence of 1.4 per cent in the general population and an estimated two million people living with HIV, it is critical for us to evolve the response to meet the needs of vulnerable groups,” he said.

“I am pleased to announce that we have taken a step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS by ensuring HIV is fully integrated into the sector wide approach (SWAP) which will help ensure that all resources are aligned with our national health priorities can continue to lead HIV response with full government ownership and accountability.”

The Minister called for collaborative efforts involving state governments, the private sector, and community leaders to scale up interventions aimed at preventing HIV transmission among children.

He emphasized that collective action and government accountability through sector-wide approaches are essential to achieving a healthier and inclusive future, free of HIV.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, noted that WAD serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing fight against HIV and the need for sustained action, particularly in protecting vulnerable populations such as children.

Ms Ilori said this year, the agency has placed special emphasis on stopping HIV/AIDS among children and raising consciousness on sustainability and ownership of the HIV response.

She said the government is putting in all efforts to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

The DG called for collective efforts to scale up prevention services, expand antenatal care, and address social barriers hindering women and children from accessing timely and quality care.

In addition, she noted that the country has achieved key milestones including the launch of the PMTCT and Paediatric Acceleration Committee, initiating local production of HIV-related commodities, and strengthening data management.