World AIDS Day: FG Unveils National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan

The federal government of Nigeria launched the national strategic framework (2023-2027) to achieve sustainability and ownership of the HIV response in the country as Nigeria joined the global community to mark World AIDS Day yesterday.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the sustainability initiative showed a crucial commitment to end AIDS by 2030 and beyond, with states taking the lead.

Senator Akume said this while presenting the document at the 2023 World AIDS Day event organised by the

National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Abuja

He urged state governments to embrace the agenda for ownership of a sustainable HIV response in the country.

World AIDS Day is celebrated every December 1 to create awareness about HIV and AIDS.

The theme for this year is “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030.”

The director-general of NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu, emphasised the need for country ownership of the HIV response, saying the response had been donor-dependent.

“Despite the government’s funding of the nation’s response, evidence shows that the HIV response in Nigeria has largely been donor-dependent. For example, in 2021, data shows that total HIV spending was estimated at $532 million, out of which $91.5 million (17.2%) was from public sources and $441 million (82.8%) was funded by international sources, with others contributing less than 1%.

“The aim of this initiative is focused on an effective and efficient HIV response owned, driven, resourced, and led by the people and the government of Nigeria at different levels, with support from her partners. The principles of this agenda include:

“Nigeria can end AIDS before 2030 with the support of our community leaders. We can end stigma and discrimination; we can ensure no baby in our communities is born with HIV. Yes, we can. We did it with Ebola, we did it again with COVID-19, and we can do it with HIV because we are Nigerians,” he said.