The joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS is sensitising medical doctors from a range of specialisations on the new “90-90-90” treatment target.
This was contained in a statement issued by Charles-Martin Jjuuko, Communication and Global Outreach Officer, UNAIDS Nigeria, on Sunday in Abuja.
The statement further said UNAIDS and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS are organising a seminar on suppression of the disease.
According to the statement, doctors from Nigerian Medical Association and Association of Resident Doctors will listen to presentations and share their views on how to achieve the target by 2020.
The statement also quoted Dr. Bilali Camara, UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria, as saying: “When health care providers own the target, its success will be guaranteed in Nigeria.
“Unless medical practitioners are fully engaged and take ownership of the 90-90-90 target, it will be difficult to attain.
“They need to be in the driver’s seat for this process of testing, treating and retaining people on treatment to happen.”
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the new model was launched at the 20th International AIDS Conference held in July 2014, in Melbourne, Australia.
Under the programme, more people would get counselled, tested and place on treatment in Nigeria, the statement explained.
It explains that the acronym 90-90-90 stands for 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90 per cent of all people receiving anti-retroviral therapy will have viral load suppression’’.
NAN.
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