The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has assured people living with HIV not to fear accessing their free care and treatment services despite ongoing concerns about a squeeze in global health funding.
IHVN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, who gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday, said that HIV testing, treatment, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission services remain fully available and free across several public and private health facilities nationwide.
He explained that IHVN currently supports over 380 facilities across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Rivers states, where more than 238,000 individuals are receiving uninterrupted antiretroviral therapy.
“At no time were life-saving services disrupted,” Dakum affirmed.
According to a statement on Tuesday by Ms. Florence Nwofor, Senior, Communications Manager at IHVN, Dakum highlighted that the Nigerian government is increasingly taking ownership of HIV programs through policies such as including people living with HIV in health insurance, supporting local test kit production, and preparing for the introduction of the preventive injectable drug, Lenacapavir.
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Reassuring patients of sustained access, Dakum emphasized that IHVN, with support from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continues to work closely with the Nigerian government to maintain essential HIV services and move the country closer to epidemic control.
According to him, the community programs have enabled caregivers and the vulnerable, including children, adolescents, and young adults, to be reached with a comprehensive package of care and community-based intervention to improve adherence, nutrition, and quality of life
“As we navigate global changes in funding, we are confident that our 20 years of PEPFAR support have built a strong foundation. We’ve made significant strides in program implementation, capacity building, laboratory infrastructure, and public health integration,” he noted.
He reaffirmed IHVN’s goal to test 95 percent of people living with HIV, place 95 percent of those who test positive on treatment, and achieve viral suppression among 95 percent of those on therapy.
Through community partnerships with faith-based and grassroots organizations, Dakum noted, IHVN continues to expand outreach programs such as the Group Mothers’ Love Gatherings and the Peer Mentor Mother Program, which provide care, counselling, and empowerment for women living with HIV.
He called for sustained collaboration among the government, partners, and civil society to keep HIV services accessible and ensure Nigeria stays on track toward ending AIDS, saying, “By working together, stakeholders can achieve a healthier future and control the HIV epidemic”.