The National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Program (NASCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social welfare says the country is taking proactive steps to ensure the continued availability of HIV treatment despite the current pause in the United States government’s funding.
The National Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, in a statement Tuesday
said, “NASCP reaffirms to recipients of care, that there are sufficient stocks of anti-retroviral medication for both prevention and treatment in all designated Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) sites nationwide.”
He said the organisation and key implementing partners developed a framework and roadmap for triple elimination of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B for the country.
He said this is in tandem with the “Free To Shine Triple Elimination Campaign” in Nigeria led by the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
He said the campaign aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of these diseases by 2030, focusing on women of reproductive age and ensuring treatment for affected children.
He also said that NASCP also conducted the National HIV products quantification to address programme needs for 2025–2029, adding that this underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring commodity security for the National Treatment and PMTCT Programme (NTPP).
He said, “Whilst putting in place several response mechanisms aimed at reducing the impact of HIV and ensuring that people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Nigeria receive quality services, NASCP undertook Family Index Testing (FIT) data validation across 15 states and the FCT to ensure sustainable improvements in data management, and systems strengthening.”
He added that there was also coordination and generation of estimates for the national HIV programme in Nigeria.
“This will enable informed decisions that will ensure improved programme implementation in the country. The review of annual national level data and performance was also carried out. This stemmed from the essential need to track programme performance and address data quality issues across board,” he added.