Following the halting of the ‘United States Agency For international Development, USAID support internationally, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) on behalf of the Nigerian government has confirmed that treatment for HIV in the country shall remains free. The Director-General of NACA, Temitope Ilori, reaffirm the government commitment yesterday in Asaba, Delta State, after inaugurating the Paediatric Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV Accelerated Committee (PPAC).
The committee aims to address the challenges of HIV transmission from mother to child in the state.
She highlighted that despite the financial constraints in the country, President Bola Tinubu’s has express commitment to ending HIV in the country, noting the allocation of N300 billion to fight the disease has since been released.
After the coming of President Donald Trump on board as the US president, his government had announced the halting of USAID fund which fighting against HIV in Nigeria and other countries fall within the purview.
Ms Ilori, however, noted that the US government was not Nigeria’s only partner in the fight against HIV, as several other countries were partners as well particularly in the PMTCT programme.
Although, she explained that currently, the focus is to address the challenge of mother-to-child transmission in the country.
“We are here to inaugurate the Delta State Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV and the Paediatric HIV Acceleration Committee.
She added, “A similar committee has been inaugurated at the national level, and states, as major stakeholders, are replicating it locally,”
She disclosed that Nigeria had the highest burden of children born with HIV, with the current national infection rate at 1.4 per cent and Delta State’s at 1.9 per cent.
However, she express optimism is already geared towards reducing the alarming number on our record.
Ms Ilori explained that the newly established committee, which included various stakeholders, aimed to ensure that pregnant women had access to antenatal care.
During the meeting she encouraged pregnant women to get tested for HIV during antenatal visits.
“If pregnant women test positive, they will receive antiretroviral treatment to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their child.”
Meanwhile, she assured that HIV drugs remained completely free and available at primary healthcare centers, secondary facilities, and teaching hospitals.
She emphasised that both the test and the treatment were provided at no cost to patients, as the federal government had allocated resources that are necessary to continue the fight.
Addressing the funding situation, Ms Ilori noted that President Bola Tinubu had set aside a budget to ensure that HIV-related services continued uninterrupted and that necessary commodities remained available.
“The fight against HIV is a collective effort and together, we can change the narrative.”
In his opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, represented by Philomena Okeowo, permanent secretary of the ministry, stated that the timing of the committee’s inauguration was crucial.
He pledged the state’s support to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission in Delta.
Hobson Rudolf, executive secretary of the Delta State Agency for Control of AIDS (DELSACA), added that the new multi-sectoral committee would work to develop a clear roadmap.
He added that the roadmap’s goal was to reduce HIV transmission from mother to child in the state.
“As of now, approximately 62,000 people in Delta State are living with HIV, representing 1.9 per cent of the population.
“HIV drugs are accessible and free at all facilities across the state,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony also included support from several partners such as WHO, NEPWHAN, SASCP, ECEWS, DPH, and Civil Society Organisations. NAN
