Bukola Afeni

In Nigeria, HIV/AIDS still remains a significant public  health challenge  globally, the country still  continues to grapple with prevention strategies to curb the spread of the virus.

Despite the challenges, stakeholders in the health sector are trying all their best to address the issues. Nigeria has an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS, with approximately 44,000 AIDS-related deaths annually.

 Despite progress in scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) access and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs, challenges still  persist, including stigma, limited access to healthcare services, and funding gaps.  

A Medical Expert, Dr Beatrice Okoye , encouraged  Nigerian leaders to strengthen political will  on HIV/AIDS related issues.

“The support of our leaders is essential in terms of political will and  domestic resource mobilization. The legislators at the state and national level need to strengthen HIV/AIDS coordination.  Different stakeholders in the health sector should also collaborate  to get effective result in HIV/AIDS management”.

She added  that regular awareness should be  carried out in the country to reduce HIV/AIDS statistics.

The Expert disclosed that behavioral campaigns and sensitization activities  should be organized  in rural communities and urban cities. 

” Campaign and Outreach that target various demographics should be carried out  to address misconceptions, and  stigma.Different categories of individuals such as youths, women and key populations such as sex workers and men who have sex with men (MSM) should be well represented. 

” The country needs to come up with various strategies that will reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS through prevention of new infections.We need to be very strategic and take proactive measures to prevent HIV/AIDS spread in the society”, she said. 

In addition, she said Mother to Child Transmission through increased access to voluntary planning information should   be sustained through regular awareness.

The Deputy Director, Resource Mobilization Department, NACA, Ope Abegunde, said there is a need to promote in-country manufacturing of Antiretroviral drugs and test kits , so as to be able to reach more Nigerians. 

The Director said there is a need to strengthen institutional capacity and governance of the Federal and State Government to drive resource mobilization efforts. 

“Leveraging Civil Societies to strengthen accountability mechanisms for mobilized funds will go a long way.There is a need to expand private health insurance coverage for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. It will allow a large number of people to be captured”‘.

A Person Living With  AIDS(PLWA), Mohammed Aliyu noted that to address HIV/AIDS  targeted interventions for key populations is important.

 “Every member of our community should be shown love at all times. They should not be stigmatized due to their health conditions.To address HIV/AIDS prevention requires a multi faceted approach from all stakeholders in the health sector”, he said.

Aliyu further called for sustained  political will to ensure the success of prevention efforts in the long term.

” It is high time for us to seek the  sustainability of the HIV/AIDS program in the country. It is critical for the government at state and national level to collaborate with stakeholders to reduce HIV/AIDS spread in the country”, he said.

 This article was produced with the support of Speak Up Africa”s Media Fellowship Program