A virology expert, Dr Ernest Ekong, has urged the Federal Government not to give up on sponsoring research for HIV vaccines.
Ekong, Director, Clinical Services Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, said continuous investment in HIV vaccine research would lead a cure for the disease.
He stated that global disparity in the expenses, burden and side effects of HIV medication made the search for a cure a necessity.
Ekong spoke in Lagos at the weekend at a media roundtable in commemoration of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day organised by New HIV vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) in collaboration with Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria.
He added: “We must know that vaccine development is a process and government must not because of that forget about anti-virus drugs, drugs for managing those already infected, sensitisation on preventive messages and awareness on where and how to get treatment.”
Ekong noted that although Nigeria has the resources to invest in HIV vaccine, it must take cognizance of the challenges of HIV vaccine including balancing resources, risk versus reward, participant selection, trial design, cost and scalability, so it can produce a cure that is “safe, effective, durable, affordable, and accessible.”
He added: “HIV cure is important because of disparity of access to care and treatment globally. Expenses, medication burden and medication side effects also make HIV cure important.
“HIV vaccine is necessary because it is a proven prevention options that have slowed the spread of HIV, it is one of the world’s most effective public health tools and it is cost effective.”
NHVMAS Programme Manager, Durueke Florita, said the programme would raise awareness on HIV vaccine research and development efforts, as well as its role in ending the HIV epidemic.
Florita stated that the programme also hopes to build community voice and demand for government investment in vaccine research in Nigeria.
She added: “NHVMAS aims to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, by increasing the range of HIV prevention tools through ensuring the availability of safe, effective, acceptable, and affordable new HIV prevention technologies and tools for all Nigerians as soon as they are discovered.
“JAAIDS aims to contribute to the prevention, care and control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, by providing innovative communication interventions that would facilitate positive behaviour change to reduce the spread of HIV’AIDS.”