Stories by Ajuma Edwina Ogiri
Abuja
Society for Women and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (SOWCHAN), went on rampage at the first National Conference on HIV Prevention in Nigeria, organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and other local and international partners, in Abuja.
The group, who trooped out in scores ran towards a podium where Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, was billed to deliver a keynote address and declare the conference open.
Leader of the group, Enya Lucy Attah, who has lived with the disease for two decades, said the protest was “a wake-up call on government to take full ownership of HIV funding, adding that Nigeria is among countries that have not met the Abuja declaration target of 15 percent of National budget commitment to health.
She said: “There should be political will by both federal and state governments to truthfully implement the many strategic plans and research recommendation developed by NACA.
“Nigeria’s dependence on external donor is 75 percent, while domestic financing is 25 percent. There is dwindling global funding for HIV in developing countries; Nigeria government must bridge this funding gap.”
She further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint one of the people living with HIV to an office created by the government, adding that the office should be known as Office of Special Adviser to the President on HIV/AIDS.
She said: “That is the person who will be providing the president with true situation on HIV response.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General, NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu, disclosed at the event that the use of antiretroviral therapy had proven to prevent transmission of HIV virus by 96 percent.
He said: “Following the 2011 landmark HTPN-O52 study, we now have very good evidence that ART is very effective in cutting HIV transmission by up to 96%. In addition to this, pregnant women could take anti retroviral treatment and adhere to treatment up to post-partum period. It will reduce the risk of transmission from as high as 30% to less than 1%.
“Similar impact on transmission rate has been reported for sero-discordant partners. This is a real achievement for the scientific community and makes the goal of eradicating HIV a real possibility.
He said the theme of the conference; “Hands-on for HIV Prevention” is very appropriate, as according to him, the conference reflects “one of our key priorities to fast-track progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It goes without saying that HIV has had a significant impact on all of us.
“The African continent is home to about 70% of the 36.7 million people living with HIV in the world. With about 3 million people living HIV in our country, Nigeria ranks second only to South Africa in terms of disease burden globally.
“Prevention is key to HIV control and remains an essential part of any programme. The impact prevention has had on the HIV epidemic has been significant – we have made tremendous progress in the last fifteen years towards ending the HIV epidemic worldwide.
“Here in Nigeria, we have recorded a steady decline in HIV prevalence from a peak of 5.8% in 2001 to 3% in 2014. In the last five years, we have reduced new HIV infections by 20% and AIDS related death by 15%. From the perspective of preventing new HIV infections, as a country, we are only 10% away from reaching the magic tipping point.
“However, the speed at which we are reducing new HIV infections needs to accelerate if we must meet our fast-track targets by 2020.”
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on AIDS, TB and Malaria, David Mbugadu, urged private institutions in the country to assist in pooling resources together to help HIV/AIDS patients in the country.
According to him, dwindling revenues to government coffers might impede government’s capacity to ensure over three million HIV positive persons in the country are placed on drugs.
Mbugadu said: Only about three million HIV patients are on ART in the country, while others are vulnerable to developing complications and die if they are not treated.
