The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gambo Aliyu, on Wednesday, challenged each state within the nation to take the lead in HIV response as nations work in direction of assembly the United Nations goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
Dr Aliyu stated this on Wednesday on the third biannual programme efficiency and stakeholders engagement assembly of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nigeria in Abuja.
Aliyu stated, “As we glance in direction of 2030, we’re additionally reminded that after 2030, HIV is prone to be an emergency that the worldwide neighborhood must deal with as an emergency. So once we change the course of HIV from an emergency to an endemic regular scenario, what are these issues that we must preserve, and what are these issues that now we have to let go of?
“I don’t have answers to the questions right away, but this is the discussion that we must have. Who are the new players that are expected to join? How do we give these new players a space before 2030?”
According to him, HIV response within the nation is pushed by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund, the Federal Government, and different stakeholders.
He, nonetheless, stated state governments are but to take the lead in HIV response.
“At the centre, you see the Federal Government, and if you search for states, and also you search for the place states are within the equation, you’ll start to ask questions, and also you most likely must put your Google to look in between the road for the place they’re situated, and this has to vary.
“As we transfer in direction of 2030, we would like states prominently that includes within the driver’s seat, working with the implementing companions to implement the programmes, and be supported, be held accountable, in addition to taking accountability.
“There isn’t any means the federal government on the centre will proceed to dominate and proceed to be liable for the nationwide response to HIV. This is the states’ job as a result of virtually 90 per cent of the amenities the place these companies are given belong to states, virtually 90 per cent of sufferers which have been at these amenities belong to the states, and possibly virtually 90 per cent of human assets for well being that present these companies on the amenities belong to states. But the query is the place are the states?
“We should see states feature prominently and lead the expected responses and us (the Federal Government) at the centre giving the states all the support in terms of logistics, and building capacity to make sure states own the responses.”
The NACA DG who restated the necessity for nation possession of HIV response, famous that each state has to take accountability and make investments accordingly.
“We can’t discuss HIV epidemic management and maintain the response to HIV with out this important sector, which is the states whilst we transfer in direction of 2030.
“You can’t talk of country ownership without seeing states being actively engaged. States are expected to drive the response, contribute, and invest,” he stated.
Meanwhile, he counseled the U.S. authorities for its generosity during the last twenty years in HIV response in Nigeria.
He stated the PEPFAR programme has helped to implement and report many achievements.
“I’m saying this as a result of now we have had an exquisite programme that has not existed earlier than, however at this time it has established buildings and the buildings are standing alone and they’re doing properly.
“We have standard laboratories that are manned proficiently, programmes implemented all over the country in urban and rural areas, and a supply chain system that has endured and continues to improve a data system that is informing our decision,” Aliyu added.
