A whopping N262 billion is needed in the next two years to effectively manage HIV/AIDS in the country, the Director General, National agency for the Control of AIDS, Prof. John Idoko, has said.
Idoko disclosed this on Tuesday during an interactive session with journalists at an inaugural Scientific Conference, organized by AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
Idoko said the funds will cover cost of testing about 80 million Nigerians and anti-retroviral providing drugs for those living with the disease in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan
He spoke further: “We have produced a plan.
“The President directed us to produce a plan for the next two years.
“That plan will cost the country N262 billion if we have to, one, test 80 million people; two, treat another 600,000 (HIV positive people), bringing the total number of people on treatment to 1,100,000; and treat 244,000 pregnant HIV women among others.
“We are discussing with the governments and they are trying to ensure that they can deliver some significant amount.”
Idoko expressed delight over the partnership between NACA and APIN, saying: “It is one of our most significant partners in the area of prevention, treatment, care and support.
“They have well over 100,000 people on drugs for example.
“They are a key partner in PMCTCT.
“Also, from the NACA, we are the principal recipient of the Global Fund and APIN is part of it.
“APIN brings to the table very key things.
“Everything needs to be driven by research, that is how APIN works.
“If you don’t know the epidemics, you cannot get the response.
“Vaccine is key even though we know that in the next many years, the vaccine will not come, but the research into vaccine touches every part of HIV from prevention to treatment, to care and support.
“So, it is a way of improving our capacity.
“We haven’t forgotten about HIV vaccine research.
“But, HIV vaccine research does not stand alone.
“It is part of the new prevention technology.”
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of APIN, Dr. Prosper Okonkwo, had this to say: “Essentially, we believe with information, we can do things better.
“At the end of this meeting, we should be able to know the kind of work that is going on in this country.
“More importantly, people will be able to use that information to influence policies and programmes to do things better.”
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