Citing the 2023 UNAIDS report, NACA revealed that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV in Nigeria, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually.
Ilorin, Nigeria – The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced plans to commence domestic production of HIV commodities, including test kits and antiretroviral drugs, by the end of 2025.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, made this known on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the inauguration of the Kwara Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.
According to Ilori, the initiative is part of the federal government’s strategy to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. She highlighted additional measures, such as enrolling individuals in the national health insurance program, mobilizing resources at the state level, strengthening advocacy, and supporting vaccine research and innovation.
Addressing Pediatric HIV Challenges
Citing the 2023 UNAIDS report, NACA revealed that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV in Nigeria, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually. Despite ongoing efforts, she noted that PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remain below 33%, falling significantly short of the 95% target.
To tackle this challenge, the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children was launched in 2021 with full financial backing. However, progress has been slow, necessitating renewed commitment and intervention.
“Kwara State’s HIV prevalence is 0.8%, lower than the national average of 1.4%. However, disparities remain, with women disproportionately affected at 1.3%, compared to 0.4% among men,” Ilori stated. She emphasized the need for targeted interventions in some local government areas to sustain and further reduce the prevalence rate.
Commitment to an AIDS-Free Generation
Ilori called on stakeholders to support efforts in developing a comprehensive list of children born to HIV-positive parents, which she described as crucial for accelerating pediatric antiretroviral therapy nationwide.
The Minister of State for Health, she added, has established a National Acceleration Committee, a model now being replicated at the state level to eliminate mother-to-child transmission and improve real-time program monitoring.
Reducing Reliance on Donor Support
Ilori also addressed concerns regarding the recent 90-day suspension of foreign aid, noting that while HIV services remain exempt, the situation underscores the urgency of government-led sustainability efforts.
“Over the past few days, I have received numerous inquiries about the impact of the foreign aid suspension on our HIV program. While we are relieved that HIV services are unaffected, this highlights the importance of reducing reliance on donor support,” she stated.
Kwara Government Pledges Support
Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, assured that the state government would fully support the newly inaugurated committee to achieve its mandate of preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and ensuring an AIDS-free generation.
With these efforts, NACA remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s HIV response and ensuring sustainable solutions for affected individuals, particularly children.
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