The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) has reported that Nigeria purportedly has the second largest HIV
epidemic in the world and has one of the highest new infection rates in
sub-Saharan Africa.
This is just as it said 720,000 Nigerians are on
United States PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment with approximately four million
Nigerians having received HIV counseling and testing services in 2017 alone.
The acting Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate, Kevin Krapf, made this disclosure during the
commemoration of the 2017 World AIDS day held in Lagos.
The commemoration was organised by the consulate in
collaboration with the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) led
by the Provost, Professor Babatunde Solagberu.
With the programmed theme: 'Increasing Impact
through Transparency, Accountability and Partnerships', Krapf said it reflects
the US government longstanding leadership in addressing global HIV/AIDS,
increasing our impact to move epidemics from crisis toward control.
He said: "It also highlights the historic
opportunity to accelerate progress toward controlling, and ultimately ending
the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat in countries around the
world.
"Finally, it emphasises the critical role of
transparency, accountability, and partnerships in reaching these goals.
"According to the Joint United Nations Program
on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world
and has one of the highest new infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Many people living with HIV in Nigeria are
unaware of their status due to insufficient recommended number of HIV testing
and counselling centres.
"Low access of antiretroviral treatment
remains an issue for people living with HIV in Nigeria, and I welcome the new
commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to use domestic funds to
provide antiretroviral drugs to an additional 50,000 people living with HIV
each year.
"The US government, through PEPFAR, has helped
not only to save and improve millions of lives, but also transformed the global
HIV/AIDS response.
"Currently, more than 720,000 Nigerians are on
PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment and approximately four million Nigerians have
received HIV counseling and testing services in 2017.
"Also, approximately 50,000 pregnant women
have received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of
HIV."
Krapf added: "We are at an unprecedented
moment in the global HIV/AIDS response.
For the first time in modern history, we have the opportunity to change
the very course of a pandemic by controlling it without a vaccine or a
cure.
"Controlling the pandemic will lay the
groundwork for eliminating or eradicating HIV which we hope will be possible
through the future scientific breakthroughs which will lead to an effective HIV
vaccine and cure.
"The US government continues to lead the way
in the global HIV/AIDS response. But no
one country or entity alone can end the AIDS pandemic.
"We are proud to partner governments, the
private sector, philanthropic organisations, multilateral institutions,
academic institutions, civil society and faith-based organisations, people
living with HIV and many others in this project.
"Through this collective effort, we also
expect to reduce the future costs required to sustain the HIV/AIDS response.
"To accelerate progress toward HIV/AIDS
epidemic control, PEPFAR continues to leverage the capabilities, assets, and
technological know-how of the private sector, creating innovative solutions to
complex problems.
While thanking the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency
for conducting a state-wide aggressive campaign, counselling and HIV/AIDS
testing through its mobile clinic initiative, Krapf said theirdetermination to
ensure a zero prevalence of HIV in the state aligns with the strategic plan of
the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
He also commended the Society for Family Health for
providing quality health services to Nigerians, particularly the poor and
vulnerable.
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