Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a significant step to curb HIV/AIDS transmission, particularly among newborns, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has inaugurated the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) committee in Enugu State.
NACA Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, while inaugurating the committee in Enugu, emphasized that the initiative will complement the efforts of the Enugu State Ministry of Health and the Enugu State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ENSACA).
“We also want to ensure that pregnant women have access to HIV testing and treatment, both in general and teaching hospitals, and that lifesaving drugs are administered,” she stated.
Commending Governor Peter Mbah for revitalizing healthcare facilities, Ilori stressed the importance of collective action, saying, “HIV is a multi-sectoral issue that demands collective effort.”
Chairman of the 20-member committee and Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, pledged the committee’s commitment to meeting its objectives.
“The ministry also sets up technical groups within these committees to drive the process. The idea has been tested and trusted, and this new committee will be no different,” Obi noted.
He reaffirmed that both PMTCT and pediatric HIV interventions would be prioritized for maximum impact across the state.
The initiative was also backed by the State Team Lead for Caritas Nigeria, Dr. Fabian Bassey, who called for increased focus on children and pregnant women.
“The current focus must shift toward protecting children, including unborn babies,” he said, revealing plans to train traditional birth attendants and equip them with HIV test kits.
Mrs. Lilian Agbo, Coordinator of the Network of People Living with AIDS, welcomed the PMTCT initiative as a source of renewed hope for affected individuals. “This will foster interventions and provide renewed hope for people living with HIV/AIDS,” she said.
With a 1.9% HIV prevalence rate among those aged 15–49, Enugu ranks highest in the Southeast and fourth nationally, according to the National Institutes of Health.
ENSACA continues to play a central role in combating the disease through public health campaigns, community engagement, and targeted interventions like PMTCT, aimed at drastically reducing new infections among children.
