The National Agancy for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says it is worried that governments in Nigeria have left HIV treatment and interventions in the country in the hands of donors. NACA’s Director of Policy and Strategy, Alex Ogundipe told newsmen at a rally commemorating 2015 World AIDS day in Abuja that they are working to get the local, state and federal governments to see HIV as a problem of the people of Nigeria and not leave it in the hand of donors. “Nigeria has left HIV treatment and interventions in the hand of donors. It is not right and that is why we are unable to provide the response to everybody that should be on treatment right now,” Ogundipe said.“It is not that donor partners are abandoning HIV response in Nigeia but they are tired and want to see the Nigerian government do more on their own in response to HIV.” “Somebody who is coming to help you with your own issue, you to demonstrate to that person that you are also concerned and you putting resources in it.” “AIDS really a good investment because $1 invited today, in five years, you will get $70 in returns. It means that this is the time to really do the best,” Camara told LEADERSHIP. Earlier, NACA’s Ogundipe had outlined measures to be taken by Nigeria achieve its HIV elimination target by 2030 saying it require family members and communities to stop stigmatising people who area positive and see HIV as any other disease.
He said the focus of this year’s event is on how to end HIV by 2030 which provides Nigeria opportunity to take stock of where it is coming and what it has achieved. “We are seeking a focus that by 2030, HIV in Nigeria should have reduced to the level where is of no national significance and people see it as any other disease,” Ogundipe said. He said that even when is conquering HIV, the country is not doing well enough because of myriads of reasons. “There was a time that once you have HIV, there was a death sentence on you and people where committing suicide and locking themselves in but is no longer the case today. It means there is hope.”
“Out of three million persons with HIV in Nigeria, over 800, 000 of them are treatment- it is not a cure but will prolong their life,” he added.
Source: Leadership Online
