Regional Meeting on Zero HIV/AIDS held in Lagos.

As the current data on HIV prevalence declines from 5.8 in 2001 to 1.4 percent in 2022 among adult population, those campaigning against the infection in West and Central Africa, otherwise known as Champions, have been charged to take active responsibility to combat HIV/AIDS prevention in the African region to a zero level.

Director General, of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Mr. Gambo Aliyu, made the call at the South-South Learning Network, West African Regional Meeting in Lagos.cz

The NACA DG explained that the meeting represents a significant step in the collective effort to combat HIV/AIDS prevention in the various regions, said it is an opportunity for everyone to share experiences, knowledge and strategies in the fight against the devastating pandemic.

According to Mr. Gambo Aliyu, ” NACA has the sole mandate of coordinating the HIV/ AIDS response in Nigeria, while a modest achievement have been recorded in the coordination and ownership of the HIV/ AIDS response at all levels “.

”  Nigeria as one of the Global Prevention Coalition Country, has continued to prioritize HIV prevention in which some of the most recent efforts included the completion of one of the national prevention self assessment tools, PSAT, and the on going sub-national PSAT ” . Aliyu

The DG said and done  quote, ” the agency was currently focusing on

strengthening the data management system for prevention to ensure evidence-based response and also working on a New business model, geared towards a more efficient and sustainable response to HIV “.

In her remarks, the Programme Director, of South-South Learning Network, SSLN, Mrs. Kerry Mangold said that one of the objectives of the programme was to achieve a successful solution based on experiences for all Africans and all African countries on the prevention and total eradication of HIV/ AIDS.

Noting that some people living with HIV experience a high level of stigmatization and discrimination in society, Mrs. Kerry urged any person who is HIV positive and not sure of his status to go to a screening center where there is no discrimination and stigmatization to get treated to live a better life, as many people have been able to prevent themselves from the epidemic.

NACA’s Director of Community Care and Support, Mr. James Anenith who spoke about the fight against the pandemic in rural areas stated that the agency was putting measures in place to ensure that they put an end to HIV/ AIDS epidemic.