NEPWHAN TASKS GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE REAGENTS LOCALLY TO BOOST ACCESS TO ANTI RETROVIRAL DRUGS- IBRAHIM 01-12-23
By Sadiq Aminu The National Coordinator of Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr Ibrahim Abdulkadir has tasked the government on establishing factories that can produce reagents locally to boost access to anti retroviral drugs.
He made the call at an event to commemorate the World AIDS Day in Abuja.
Mr Abdulkadir painted a grim picture of how the community had difficulty assessing medication during the covid-19 pandemic , hence the call for a local reagent factory to address that challenge.
He told the gathering that the association would continue to ensure that its members get all the medical services needed.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Dr. Gambo Aliyu has urged government at all levels to increase HIV financing for prevention, treatment, care and support programmes in Nigeria.
Director General of the National Agency for The Control of Aids (NACA), Dr. Gambo Aliyu said Nigeria has made great progress in combating HIV/AIDS in the last decade.
He noted that the feat would not have been possible without the support from communities.
The DG of NACA pointed out that despite challenges, Nigeria had excelled in her response, through the partnership of international donors, and called for more funding for programmes that increase access to health services and end discrimination against persons living with HIV.
‘’As we remember those who died from AIDS, celebrate our surviving heroes and soldiers fighting the battle against the disease on a daily basis, it is important to note that achieving an AIDS free society is possible if we join hands to demand for HIV services, support persons infected to access services and end all forms of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS’’, Dr Aliyu said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by his Chief of Staff, Chris Tafa pledged government’s commitment to meet the global target of ending HIV by 2030.
He call on the organized private sector to ensure it delivers on its pledge to support Government effort to achieve a generation where no baby is born with HIV in Nigeria.
Mr Tafa unveiled the national strategic framework 2023 to 2027 and the symbol of new business model for sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.
The UN resident Coordinator, Mathias Schmale and Mission Director for US, Melissa Jones both commended the Nigeria government.
They expressed optimism that Nigeria could meet her 2030 HIV goals.