Minister expresses FG’s determination to end HIV scourge by 2030

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, reiterated Federal Government’s determination to end the HIV epidemic by the year 2030,
in line with the UN Joint Programme on AIDS vision 90-90-90.
He made the government’s position known at the official launch of “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U Campaign) by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS in Abuja.
The minister, who was represented by Olokun Lawal, a Pharmacist in the ministry, restated Nigeria’s commitment toward achieving viral suppression through what he called “Detection, Treatment and Suppression”.
The minister acknowledged Nigeria’s achievements toward suppressing HIV virus through treatment interventions, which he said started in 1986 when the epidemic was first reported in the country.
He said: “Nigeria is on track to achieving the UNAID’s 90-90-90 vision and we are working hard toward ending HIV by the year 2030.”
Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director General of NACA, expressed satisfaction with the successes achieved in stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Aliyu explained that the achievements were evident in the 2018 National AIDS and Indicator Survey as launched by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He ascribed the successes to efforts by communities in partnership with government, US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and global funds in the last 15 years.
The NACA boss said that Nigeria’s HIV prevalence reduced from 4.4 per cent in 2005 to 1.4 per cent in 2018.
According to him, outstanding efforts by communities put the country on the path of achieving HIV epidemic control
He reiterated the need for funding, which he said was paramount toward educating the society to fight stigma and discrimination.
He noted that the efforts of communities were ever-needed in ensuring that HIV remained on the political agenda, aimed at galvanising international funding.
The NACA director general restated the determination of the agency in achieving UNAID’S 90-90-90 vision by ensuring that prevention, treatment and care were community compliant and sustainable.
“Therefore, when Nigeria says that Undetectable Viral Load equals Untransmittable Virus, Nigeria is joining the international community in basing her position on solid scientific evidence,’’ Aliyu said.
Senator Dipo Olujinmi, the Chairman of NACA Board, described the inauguration of the U=U campaign as an important landmark for every Nigerian.
Olujinmi, however, called for intensive awareness on the campaign to achieve a general and national viral suppression.