As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate then World AIDS Day yesterday, the federal government launched the national strategic framework (2023-2027) towards attaining sustainability and ownership of HIV response in the country.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the sustainability initiative indicated a pivotal commitment towards ending AIDS by 2030 and beyond, with states providing leadership.
Senator Akume stated this while unveiling the document at the 2023 World AIDS Day event organised by the
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Abuja.
He state governments to key into the agenda for ownership for sustainable HIV response in the country.
World AIDS Day is commemorated every December 1 to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS.
The theme for this year is “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030”.
The director-general of NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu, stressed the need for country ownership of HIV response, saying the response had been donor-driven.
“In spite of government’s financing of the nation response, evidence shows that the HIV response in Nigeria has really been donor driven, for instance in 2021, data shows that total HIV expenditure was estimated at $532m out of which $91.5m (17.2%) was from public sources while $441m (82.8%) was funded by International sources with others contributing less than 1%.
“The goal of this initiative is centered on an effective and efficient HIV response owned, driven, resourced and led by the people and the government of Nigeria at different levels, with support from her partners. The principles of this agenda include.
“Nigeria can end AIDS before 2030 with support of our community leaders. We can end stigma and discrimination, we can ensure no babies in our communities is born with HIV; Yes, we can. We did it with Ebola, we repeated with COVID-19 and we can do it with HIV because we are Nigerians,” he said.