The Federal Government has reiterated its pledge to eliminate AIDS in children by the year 2030.
Dr Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), made this assurance during a stakeholders’ workshop on the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children held in Abuja on Monday.
According to the coordinator, Nigeria has made considerable progress in tackling HIV/AIDS in both adults and children over the last two decades, with much of the success attributed to support from global partners, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, and others.
“The difficult part of the race has been completed, and we have scaled up. We are not where we were 20 years ago. Now, we are closer to ending the epidemic, sustaining treatment, reducing new infections, and ensuring that everyone who needs treatment receives it,” he said.
Bashorun noted that adult treatment coverage was approaching 90 per cent, with efforts now being channelled toward achieving similar coverage for children.
To support this initiative, he disclosed that the government had approved $200 million for the health sector, aimed at addressing the gap left by the withdrawal of USAID funding.
He also highlighted ongoing investments in logistics, personnel, and health infrastructure, while calling for revised implementation models to ensure greater efficiency.
“We now want models that can deliver more services with fewer resources. With the unlocking of the healthcare value chain, we can now quantify local content and enhance our approach,” he added.
Bashorun further emphasised the importance of the country’s now robust national data system, which represents a shift from previous dependency on data from external implementing partners.
Dr Modupe Elendu, the Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) focal person at UNICEF, also addressed participants, outlining the four key pillars of the Global Alliance, which consists of 12 countries focused on ending AIDS in children.
“These pillars include ensuring no child with HIV is left behind, preventing mother-to-child transmission, universal testing for all pregnant women, strengthening PMTCT programmes, and addressing barriers to effective implementation,” she said.
While acknowledging persisting challenges, Elendu noted improvements in data coverage and health coordination.
“We now have comprehensive data systems covering the entire country, a big step up from past dependency on external data sources,” she added.
Correspondents report that the workshop aims to review the progress of the Global Alliance Plan, identify gaps in service delivery for children and adolescents, and collect stakeholder input for global reporting.
It also aims to bolster coordination and sustain stakeholder engagement.
The Global Alliance, launched in August 2022, focuses on closing critical service gaps for children and adolescents affected by HIV.
(NAN)