FG committed to reducing new HIV infection – Minister

The Federal Government says it is mobilising additional resources, redesigning and strengthening prevention programmes, as part of its efforts to reduce new HIV infections in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this on Friday in Abuja, at a programme organised by the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health in preparation for the 2019 World AIDS Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the World AIDS Day is an annual global event marked on December 1, to reflect collectively on the past, present and future of HIV/AIDS.
This year’s event has the theme “Communities make the difference”.
Ehanire said the FMMOH would also be developing and reviewing policies that would strengthen prevention efforts and bring up innovations on HIV programmes and services that would reach targeted populations at the community level.
The minister said that the government was aware that the provision of Anti-Retroviral Therapy at no cost to patients, was key to the elimination effort.
“There is evidence to show that PLHIV (Persons Living with HIV), who have undetectable viral load, are not able to transmit the infection to their sexual partners.
“We are supported by U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and Global Fund, to meet the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 target by December 2020.
“This entails ensuring that 90 per cent of estimated PLHIV actually know their status; 90 per cent of those who know their status are on ART, and 90 per cent of those on ART are virally suppressed,” he said.
According to him, the Nigeria HIV/AIDS indicator and Impact Survey, conducted in 2018, provides evidence that the national HIV prevalence is on the decline.
He pointed out that some states of the federation had the largest unmet treatment needs and therefore required more urgent attention.
The minister said that the National Treatment and Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission, Programme under the FMOH had been strengthened to coordinate the health sector response.
Ehanire said that the Federal Government would continue to address challenges affecting quality HIV/AIDS services to ensure a healthier future for Nigerians living with the virus.
“PLHIV and community groups at high risk of HIV infection shall be engaged in national HIV response.
“We shall sustain our efforts to end AIDS by the year 2030 in line with global goals.
“As we mark the 2019 World AIDS Day, let us join other countries around the globe to say “Communities Make the Difference,’’ Ehanire said.