Dr. Temitope Ilori, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), revealed that Nigeria bears the highest burden of children born with HIV/AIDS globally. Speaking during a working visit to health institutions in Oyo State, Dr. Ilori outlined efforts to combat the epidemic by 2030, emphasizing prevention and community engagement.
Despite Nigeria’s unfortunate status, Dr. Ilori expressed optimism in ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, focusing on preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) through increased awareness, access to healthcare, and skilled birth attendants. She stressed the importance of engaging traditional birth attendants and various stakeholders to ensure comprehensive outreach and education.
Dr. Ilori urged Nigerians to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the need for collective action to achieve the 95-95-95 targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. These targets aim to ensure that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, receive antiretroviral therapy, and achieve viral suppression by 2030.
Highlighting gender discrimination and the vulnerability of key populations, such as sex workers and men who have sex with men, Dr. Ilori emphasized the importance of tailored interventions to address disparities and effectively combat the epidemic.
Dr. Ilori emphasized the importance of sustainable strategies to maintain progress in the face of donor fatigue or withdrawal, emphasizing collaboration with government at sub-national levels to ensure ownership of efforts.
In response, Oyo State Health Commissioner, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetumobi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustainability through community awareness campaigns and engagement with religious leaders.
Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), advocated for the availability of HIV test strips for rapid self-testing, emphasizing the need to reduce stigma and improve access to testing and treatment.
According to NACA statistics from 2023, approximately 1.8 million people are living with HIV in Nigeria, with about 1.63 million on antiretroviral therapy. The data underscores the urgency of addressing MTCT rates and closing the gap to achieve global targets for HIV/AIDS eradication.