Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has inaugurated a multi-sectoral committee to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Delta State.
Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, stated that the treatment of HIV infection in Nigeria remains free despite funding challenges.
Ilori emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is committed to ending the HIV scourge, allocating N300 billion to combat the disease and other health-related issues.
“The US Government was not the only partner in the fight against HIV scourge; some other countries still support Nigeria in its fight to eliminate HIV, particularly, in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission,” Ilori said.
Ilori noted that Nigeria has the highest burden of children born with HIV, with a prevalent infection rate of 1.4% nationwide and 1.9% in Delta State.
“Unfortunately, HIV is still here with us… What is more disheartening is that we have children born with HIV, and we are saying we want to change the narrative,” she said.
To address this, Ilori urged pregnant women to undergo antenatal care and HIV testing, promising that those found positive would receive treatment.
The committee’s inauguration is part of NACA’s efforts to replicate national-level initiatives at the state level, recognizing states as major stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
As Ilori emphasized, “So, we are here to inaugurate the Delta State Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and the Paediatric HIV Acceleration Committee”.
