Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Director General of the National Agency for AIDS Control (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori has reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS in the country.
Dr Ilori made it known during the inauguration of the “Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Accelerated Committee” in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital on Wednesday.
She assured the public that “HIV drugs would be consistently available in all hospitals,” emphasizing the role of increased funding from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to guarantee a steady supply of medications and testing kits nationwide.
Ilori urged the newly formed committee to focus on “making Taraba HIV-free,” pointing out that “mother-to-child transmission remained a major route for spreading the virus.”
She stressed the importance of collaborative efforts, calling for enhanced partnerships to boost awareness campaigns and implement effective response strategies across the country.
A significant aspect of the initiative involves engaging “interfaith groups, aimed at sensitising women to HIV testing during antenatal and postnatal care,” which she believes will play a crucial role in combating the epidemic.
Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bodiya Boma echoed Ilori’s sentiments, outlining plans to significantly reduce the state’s HIV prevalence rate of 2.9%.
He highlighted that Governor Agbu Kefas prioritizes PMCT programs as part of the goal to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030. Supporting these efforts, Mr. Timothy Wubon, Chairman of the Taraba AIDS Control Agency (TACA), committed to mobilizing the necessary resources for sustained intervention efforts against HIV/AIDS in the state.
