No fewer than 18, 000 people will benefit from the free HIV/AIDS testing and counselling services offered by the RedRibbonCoalition.
The group said this at a briefing in Lagos. The exercise, which is already in progress, would run for two weeks.
National Convener and Committee Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Plc, Emeka Mba, said the campaign would create awareness about HIV/AIDS.
The coalition, he said, is poised to reduce the issue of stigmatisation and discrimination for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
The campaign, he added, would cover about eleven states.
Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) Executive Director Anu Ishola said the coalition would reach out to young people to come out and know their status.
“We want to ensure that people have the right information on HIV/AIDS and issues affecting them, know where they can access friendly,” she said.
Tag: HIV/AIDS
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Free HIV/AIDS test for 18,000
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Youths seek end to HIV/AIDS at summit
Worried about the burden of HIV/AIDS on the youth who are said to be the most productive of Nigeria’s population, some Nigerian youths converged on Transcorp Hilton Abuja, to brainstorm ways to end the epidemic.
The youth, drawn from the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), attended the conference tagged Youth Summit, to mark this year’s World AIDS Day.
The summit challenged Nigerian youths to discover themselves and assume leadership roles, drawing on their natural talents, backed with skills and robust energy to provoke change in the social and economic spheres
Various speakers, who were mostly youths from various spheres of life, expressed optimism that if the youth could look inwards, understand their influence and awesome power, they can cause a lot of change in the current socio-political and economic situation in the country. This will empower them and make them less vulnerable to factors that drive the pandemic.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Victoria Isiramen, United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) specialist on HIV said the global body was there ‘’to chat the future.”
She added that donors are now shifting focus from HIV and AIDS to other areas, yet there exist great opportunities, if youths could position themselves to explore any aspect of the sustainable development goals. She said though the sustainable goals did not make any specific provision for HIV and AIDS intervention, many of the targets have direct relevance to youths and could be utilised.
For instance, of the 17 goals, the first aims at ending poverty in all its forms everywhere while the second goal focuses on ending hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The third ensures healthy lives and promotes people’s well-being at all ages while the fourth goal ensures inclusive and quality education for all and promotes life-long learning, among others.
Citing what she called a “demographic dividend”, a term she defined as “a boost in economic growth that occurs when a country’s working age population is larger than the population that is dependent and younger,’’ she explained that this much is an asset that the country needs to leverage on to scale off from the limitations, but the youth are responsible to make it happen.
She also cited very high unemployment rates in the country but maintained that “as active citizens’’ they can innovate and network to demand their rights and act as change agents through advocacy, mobilisation, education networking, using their vast numbers and advantages derivable from the new media and information technology.
In his paper entitled “The Role of Young People in HIV Programming in Nigeria”, Mr. Isa Mohammed, advised the youth not to under-estimate their capacities, adding that there is no limit to what the youth could do.
“We hold the power to build the future’, he insisted. He acknowledged the contributions of Nigerian youths in so many programmes to bring AIDS to an end. He said they include mobilisation of people to access treatment, advocacy for youth-friendly services and campaign against stigma and discrimination, among others.
He also asserted that the world would only remember those who have solved a human problem. ‘’Get the job done, we are all in”
In her paper entitled “Overview of HIV Response Among Young People in Nigeria”, Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu, Director Programme Coordination, NACA, exposed the vulnerability of youths to HIV and AIDS, citing factors that drive the pandemic to include multiple and concurrent sexual partnership, inter-generational sex and sexual coercion, among others.
She enjoined the youth to take charge of themselves so as to be productive and responsible citizens.
The summit featured various presentations, feedback session as well as capacity building. It enabled youths and adolescents to air their views on their experiences on HIV and AIDS and the way forward.
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FG advised to support efforts to end HIV/AIDS
The Federal Government has been advised to support efforts of other nations to evolve a development of new diagnostics to end HIV/AIDS.
The immediate past Director General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko, at the 7th Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas Public Health Leadership Forum Guest Lecture organised by the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said it was necessary for the Federal Government to be part of the research to eradicate the deadly disease.
According to him, there was a development of new diagnostics including early post-exposure infection, vaccines, prevention approaches for young women, and slow release of anti-retro cubital drugs in order to end the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Idoko, who disclosed that Nigeria has made an appreciable effort at reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence, from six per cent to three per cent, said that study has shown that HIV is prevalent among men having sex with men.
However, Idoko further disclosed that the spread of the deadly disease was declining in other populations, especially among the sex workers.
He added that criminalization of sex workers and men having sex with men has compounded their exposure to early treatment.
Idoko maintained that eradicating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria would depend on learning from successes and failures of the past.
In his opening remarks, the acting Vice- Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, called for using religion as a tool for preventing HIV/AIDS.
He stressed that drug alone cannot cure diseases.
In their goodwill messages, the Chairman Board of Directors and also Chief Executive Officer of AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APINS), Dr. Oluwole Odutolu and Dr Prosper Okonkwo, respectively praised Prof. Lucas Adetokunbo, who he described as a quitensentia and a man, who has left an indelible mark in the field of medicine in Nigeria and beyond.
They also described the 85 years old Professor of International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, as an accomplished person and a force to be reckoned with in the field of Medicine in Nigeria and beyond.
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HIV/AIDS: Fed Govt plans to abolish treatment charges
President Muhammad Buhari has said that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AID) still remains one of the country’s biggest health challenges. Buhari, who spoke yesterday in Abuja as Nigeria joined the rest of the World to celebrate World AID Day, vowed to reduce the cost of treatment of the virus in the country.
World AIDS Day is set aside to remember those who have fallen victim to this global pandemic, those who have devoted their lives towards the prevention of new infection and the discovery of treatments, as well as to celebrate healthcare workers, who toil day and night to make those infected healthy again.
It cost N50,000 to treat an AID patient annually.
The country is said to have about 3.2 million people living with the virus, as 180,000 die yearly of the scourge.
Presently, no fewer than one million of the 3.2 million have been placed under treatment.
Besides, report has it that Nigeria has the largest number of newly-infected children, with one in every three new HIV infections among children in the world.
The President said the country’s high rating as the second most HIV/AIDS burden nation only to South Africa, was unacceptable.
Buhari, who was represented by Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole, assured those living with the virus that government would work towards reducing the cost of treatment.
He also assured them that government would address the issue of shortage in medication, by working assiduously to ensure local manufacturing of HIV drugs.
He said: “I am aware of the challenges that have arisen in the last few years with regards to the delivery of HIV services in the country. Nigeria continues to miss major targets despite the considerable resources directed by government, local and international partners. In keeping with our policy of ridding Nigeria of corruption, I hereby re-affirm our commitment of ensuring accountability and transparency in the HIV/AIDS sector. In the face of dwindling financial resources available to government, it is vital that we improve on the efficiency and effectiveness of our programme, plug any wastage that could arise from mismanagement of resources and restore the confidence of our international partners.
“Looking forward, we will work towards reducing the cost of delivering HIV care to our citizens through engagement with the pharmaceutical industry to support the local production of antiretroviral medications and test kits. We will encourage the pooling of federal and state funds to finance a common national procurement and logistics system, which will help address problems of stock outs.”
He added: “Nigeria recorded the very first case of HIV just over 30 years ago. From this single case, we now have more than three million people infected by the virus, the second largest number of people with HIV/AIDS in any country worldwide.
“Today, more people die of HIV infection in Nigeria than in any other country in the world, with about 180,000 deaths every year. We also have the largest number of newly-infected children. Our country contributes one in every three new HIV infections among children in the world. This is simply unacceptable. HIV and AIDS remain one of the biggest health challenges for our people, and eliminating this disease is a major priority for this government.”
Also yesterday, health workers decried the shortage of HIV test kits.
The shortage, which they claim has been constant since the beginning of the year, is hampering the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Medical logistics officer for Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), Gideon Ijah, explained that the organisation would have tested thousands of residents in Abuja for HIV, if they had sufficient test kits.
Ijah, who spoke yesterday at CFHI HIV/AIDS campaign drive in Abuja, explained that the organisation focuses on promoting healthy family living and fighting the scourge of HIV and AIDS in the country.
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U.S. Assures of steady funding for HIV/AIDS
The United State has assured Nigeria of steady funding for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and has appealed for increased domestic funding to combat HIV/AIDS.
The declaration was made by Ms Shirley Dady, the Coordinator of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
Dady said that the organisation is expecting its funding in Nigeria to be constant, adding that “this year we have a budget of $400 million for the HIV/AIDS response”.
“We are looking at ways where we can be more efficient with the resources so that we can increase the number of people we place on treatment every year.
“We are hoping that the government of Nigeria can also contribute and increase funding in a meaningful way to conquer the epidemic,’’ she said.
She said the U.S. government is committed to working with Nigeria to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target which will allow us to get ahead of the epidemic.
The coordinator said: “We are looking to diagnose 90 per cent of people on the HIV; place 90 per cent of the HIV-positive people on treatment.’’
She added that the ambitious UNAIDS target also aimed at reducing the viral load by 90 per cent to reduce HIV transmission in the Nigeria.
She said there is a new technology that encourages private testing of HIV; the kit will hopefully be available in Nigeria soon.
Besides, Dady said stigma and discrimination which affects the gains in controlling HIV/AIDS by 2020 and ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
The official added that there is no reason to discriminate among people living with the virus, stressing that HIV is not different from other non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
“If one is found to be positive to HIV; he can be placed on the ART and to reduce the viral load and ability to transmit the virus, and it can also help one to remain healthy.
“Back in the early days of HIV it was seen as a death sentence, people did not find out how to live with the virus until when it is very late and many of them just passed away.
“Today when you found out that you are positive you start ART and live positively,’’ she said.
Dady said this year’s World AIDS Day is set to think about our colleagues who are HIV positive and those who had passed away due to the epidemic.
She added that day would also be used to commemorate and think about those people who are now able to live positively based on the new advances and treatment.
Earlier, Stuart Symington, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, said the U.S. government has supported Nigeria to put 762,000 people on antiretroviral therapy.
He added that 12,665,000 Nigerians were supported by the U.S. government to know their status.
However, he appealed to the Nigerian government to re-strengthen the healthcare system to augment the support of its partners.
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Agencies fight HIV/AIDS in Anambra
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and its Anambra State counterpart ANSACA have ended a crucial meeting in Awka, the state capital, and it seems they are making progress.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening the state’s coordination and prevention of HIV/AIDS in various health facilities in the state to ensure best practices.
Mrs. Doris Ekeh, NACA leader from the Abuja World Bank team, said she was satisfied with the development in Anambra.
The team was briefed on its arrival in the state by the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Onyeakachukwu Ibezim.
The meeting was also to strengthen what ANSACA is doing for programme efficiency and help deepen the state’s intervention towards decreasing HIV prevalence in the state.
Speaking with The Nation, Ibezim said the Governor Willie Obiano administration had embarked on proactive projects in the state in line with its vision of being a foremost platform for the control of HIV/AIDS in the state.
He noted that the Agency under his watch was poised to record landmark feats that would curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Anambra State in accordance with the mandate from Governor Obiano despite the challenges of the current global economic crunch.
He said, “The ANSACA Office has been operating without electricity supply for three years but we have successfully restored electricity and the staff is once again operating under conducive working conditions. This has also increased our productivity.
“This feat was achieved courtesy of the office of Her Excellency, the Wife of the Executive Governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, whose office superintends ANSACAs’ activities. She provided us with a connection of the electricity.”
“At present there are 43 treatment facilities providing free Anti Retroviral drugs, and over 300 PMTCT facilities supported by the FHI 360 through the SIDHAS project and PPFN in the state”
“The state governor Chief Willie Obiano is very supportive and he has given his directives on curbing the spread of the virus to its lowest ratio while taking care of those already living with it”
“Ibezim informed that ANSACA organised a residential workshop on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) lectured by NACA facilitators on the ways of curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, different rape situations and legal actions to be taken in these situations with participants drawn from different Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals”
“He added that the Workshop also featured a UNDP sponsored section on Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PHA).”
“This featured sharing of experiences among the persons living with HIV/AIDS. The impact of this session was that they were exposed to effective resistance of stigmatization, healthy living, importance CD4 Count and check when necessary, adherence to prescribed drugs, etc.”
He recalled that ANSACA in collaboration with the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), organized a road show featuring television and radio interviews by the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) with more than 200 participants gathered at the ABS Complex where holistic lectures on HIV/AIDS were delivered by ANSACA Staff.
He added that through the March, effective sensitization and creation of awareness on HIV/AIDS was carried out. This was achieved through distribution of fliers, on-the-spot counseling, amongst others.
He said “the NACA Supportive Supervision to Anambra State took place and the team accessed the SACA team to enable them write a comprehensive for extension of the Project”
“A debriefing meeting was held between the Executive Director of ANSACA and the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Executives (Anambra State Chapter)”
“The essence of the meeting was to sensitize the support group the need to adhere strictly on their ARVs drugs and constant check of viral load also the need for the general public to stop stigmatization”
“The Support Service Organisation (SSO) visited us to deliberate on CSOs achievement so far. SSO’s are support organization engaged by NACA to oversee their Project and report back to them”
Ibezim said “there was also a visit by the NACA/World Bank on Safeguard and Environmental Management to discuss the modalities in facilitating effective and efficient execution of environmental social safe guard in HIV/AIDS Project”
“The was series of meetings which enhanced cordial relationship between ANSACA and its coordinating units”
A debriefing meeting was also held with 21 LACA Managers and 21 M&E Officers, 7 Project Managers of CSOs and 7 Finance Officers.
It would be recalled that the Anambra State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS (ANSACA) was established by an Act of the Anambra State House of Assembly on the 16th day of April 2007.
It was assented to by the then Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi on May 18, 2007. It is charged with coordinating the state’s multi-sectoral responses on HIV/AIDS.
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Nigeria HIV\AIDS prevalence now 3 percent – NACA
Nigeria has recorded tremendous success in the fight against HIV\AIDS, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has said.
In a statement issued by NACA, the country has moved from a high prevalence rate of over 5.8 % in the year 2001 to less than 3% prevalence rate in 2014.
This achievement notwithstanding, agency however warned that HIV\AIDS still remains an epidemic.
“Nigeria has indeed moved from a high prevalence rate of over 5.8 % in the year 2001 to less than 3% prevalence rate in 2014, despite this significant milestone in our National HIV/AIDS Response, there are still many challenges that is confronting our getting to zero ambition by the year 2030.
The Director General of NACA, Dr Aliyu Sanni in his 56th Independent message assured Nigerians that NACA with that the help of the present government will strategically put measures in place to make HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) available to all Nigerians irrespective of where they reside.
‘If we can reach all Nigerians with HCT, it will be easier to reduce new infection and place individuals who have tested positive to HIV virus on Antiretroviral, which in itself is a preventive in getting to zero,” he added.
“A vital step in reaching our set goal is for all Nigerians to know their HIV status. A simple rapid test will enable an individual know his/her HIV status, which remains the gateway to HIV Prevention, treatment and care. Nigeria government in collaboration with foreign donor agencies and other relevant stakeholders in Nigeria has put efforts together over the years to ensure that all Nigerians get tested by making HIV testing free at all government hospital across the country,” he further stated.
NACA also charges all Nigerians to use the occasion of the Independence Day celebration to reflect and make a conscious effort to know their HIV status. The agency reassures Nigerians on her commitment to continue to coordinate HIV/AIDS National Response in Nigeria; together we will fight AIDS to finish.
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NURTW chair to members: go for HIV/AIDS test
The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has advised commercial drivers in the state to go for HIV/AIDS screening to know their health status
He gave the advice in Lagos when he led members of his executive to undertake the HIV/AIDS screening
The NURTW boss said the screening was to help people to know their HIV/AIDS status to enable them undergo necessary treatment if they tested positive
He said the allocation of a screening centre to the state council secretariat showed the importance the state government attached to the transportation industry.
Agbede said Governor Akiwunmi Ambode has done a lot to improve the transport system.
“The state government has helped to repair most of the roads in the state and this has helped to boost our operation. Also, the operation ‘Light up Lagos’ has helped to improve night life in the state.
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Agency screens 1000 for HIV/AIDS
No fewer than 1000 workers were screened for HIV and AIDS at the Onikan Stadium on Sunday, venue of this year’s Workers’ Day celebration in Lagos. This was courtesy of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA).
LSACA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Oluseyi Temowo, who spoke at the occasion, said his agency has put in place effective strategies to reduce HIV and AIDS in the state.
According to him, the strategies being implemented will ensure social and economic revival through behavioural change.
The agency’s vision, he said, was akin to the theme of this year Workers’ Day – “The working class and the quest for social economic revival”.
Leading the response to HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) in state, according to him, was herculean, yet achievable.
He urged workers to appeal to their family members to go for HIV counselling and testing, adding that the agency has scaled-up community outreach campaign of HCT for early detection and treatment.
He continued: “This is in recognition of the global trend in HIV intervention, which is to eliminate new infections, discrimination and AIDS related death and initiative of eradicating the scourge by 2030.
“It is now a common knowledge that somebody living with HIV can be symptoms-free for about 10 years and being able to infect others if not checked and treated. Living with HIV does not translate to death with appropriate medication. That is why knowing one’s status is very important”.
Temowo said access to testing and counselling will allow people to know their status early and take appropriate steps to prevent the transmission to other people.
Besides, it also affords people the opportunity to take steps to stop the progression to AIDS through necessary lifestyle modification in their health seeking behaviour.
He charged residents of Lagos State to visit the General Hospital close to their place of residence to access free HIV counselling and testing.
The agency mobile HCT truck moves to hard to reach areas for this purpose, Temowo added.
Abstinence, he said, was the best option, adding that couples should be faithful to their partners.
The agency’s mobile HCT truck and tents, he said, were on ground to receive workers who are willing to have the test.
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NACA launches simplified HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination law
The Director General National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko, yesterday launched a popular version of Nigeria’s HIV and AIDS anti-discrimination Act 2014.
This, Idoko said, was to offer more people a chance to understand and utilise its provisions.
The Act makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on their HIV status.
It also prohibits any employer, individual or organisation from requiring a person to take an HIV test as a precondition for employment or access to services.
The NACA boss, who launched the document in Abuja, said: “Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world with an anti-discrimination law related to HIV and AIDS, making a popular version of the law available will result in increased demand for testing services and improved quality of life for the people living with HIV in Nigeria.”
He hoped the law will create a more supportive environment, allowing people living with and affected by HIV to carry on their lives as normally as possible in their communities and work places.
The Country Programme Manager AHF Nigeria, Adebayo Towolawi, said: “The need to have a simplified version of the law is to ensure accessibility and implementation for the general populace; most especially for the benefit of people living with HIV and AIDS.
“We believe that this will set precedence for more laws to be simplified in the country and for more orientation to be carried out.”
Dr. Bilali Camara, UNAIDS country Director for Nigeria and UNIADS focal points for ECOWAS, said: “As far as UNAIDS is concerned, zero discrimination remains at the heart of ending AIDS by 2030.
“This popular version that has been launched will support the zero discrimination targets directly,”.