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  • MY LIFE AS IBIBIO-BORN SCIENTIST WHO SPEAKS — Human genetics expert Dr. Uduak Daniel

    MY LIFE AS IBIBIO-BORN SCIENTIST WHO SPEAKS — Human genetics expert Dr. Uduak Daniel

    Popular Contemporary Christian singer, Dr. Uduak Daniel, who is also an Deputy Director and the South South Zonal Coordinator at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), is reputed for her work in prevention programming, gender, organisational development and research. But her popularity stems more from her exploits as a gospel artiste whose past concerts in Abuja and outside the shores of Nigeria remain etched in the memories of her fans, speaks with PAUL UKPABIO about her Pan-African look, her scientific works and music.

     

    How would you say your early life has influenced the person that you are today?

    I grew up in a home where love was easily expressed and the girl-child was esteemed. Even though my parents were disciplinarians, they taught us to be ourselves. We are five
    children—four ladies and a man—but we all have our peculiarities. My parents understood and appreciated that. I have adopted that in raising my children.

    No two people are the same. We were pretty comfortable and well taken care of. So, when it comes to being principled, It was not only taught but exemplified. There was time for everything. My parents had no favourites; at least not to our knowledge. My dad treated us like royalty and that boosted my self-esteem. I had a few fears, but I also knew I was safe. How that has helped me today? I am simply happy with who I am. It has informed my philosophy, which is to live fulfilled and die emptied. I do not have to be another person to make an impact. My parents are late, but the ideals and values that they instilled in us live on. This is real impact.

    What is your educational background?

    I attended St. Catherine’s model school for my primary education. Next was Our Lady of
    Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, where I obtained my West African School Certificate
    (WASC). I studied Biology at University of Calabar’s Department of Biological Sciences. I obtained a BSc (Hon.) degree in 1992, PGDM in 1997 and MPh 2006. In 2011, I enrolled in the Division of Genetics of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. I obtained a Ph.D in Human Genetics and Genomics in 2015.

    We understand that you are in the public service. Where do you work?

    I work at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), where I am a Deputy Director and South South Zonal Coordinator.

    Can you explain more what human genetics and genomics is about?

    Ah! I am going to talk now with the simplicity of a development practitioner. Let me try and
    explain by painting a picture: a human being is an organism, and an organism is made up of trillions of cells. Liken a cell to an avocado pear; in its center is the seed, right? That is how the cell is. That core is called the nucleus. Inside the nucleus, there are double-stranded structures
    called the DNA. So back to our avocado pear, what you see inside the seed are X-like DNA, but each stroke of the X is double, so there are actually four strands. Okay?

    These DNAs are composed of genes. See where the term genetics come from? The genes contain specific sets of instructions and information in a coded form. These are called genetic codes and they determine our traits – health, development, growth etc. The distinctions in our genetic codes and subsequently traits is what makes every human being unique.

    The DNAs don’t stay straight in the nucleus; they coil up to form chromosomes. Every human cell inherits two sets of chromosomes from each parent. So I am a woman and I have two X chromosomes from my mum and two X chromosomes from my dad. You have two X
    chromosomes from your mum and two Y chromosomes from your dad. The Y chromosome is what makes you a man.

    So human genetics is the study of how inheritance occurs in the human being. Is that okay?

    Now to human genomics. The word “genome” is a compound word; it comes from gene and chromosome. Simply put, genome is the entire DNA in the human being or cell. Remember the chromosome is coiled up DNA that is composed of genes? So human genomics is the study of how the genome (all the DNAs) is structured and how they function. I hope you weren’t confused?

    As a scientist and gospel artist, how were you able to combine the love of the sciences with the love of the arts?

    Each has its place and so it’s easy to love both distinctly. I was brought up, like I said earlier, to objectively assess what I do or where I am at any point in time. So, combining arts and science has not been difficult at all. I am a scientist and an artiste, period!

    What informed your decision to go into music?

    (Laughs) I loved music while growing up. I mimicked every musician I fancied. And then I realized I could compose songs. I’d express my emotions with lyrics I composed using my English composition skills which I learnt in secondary school. By the time I was in the university, I had kind of mastered the art of composition and performance. And then God started drawing my attention to certain things which I could express through songs. God influenced my choice of
    going into music. It was another way of saying what I wanted to say.

    At what point did you go into music?

    When I felt it was time to do so professionally. And that was in 2001.

    How did your parents react to it?

    Ah! They were my number one fans! My parents attended all my concerts, ministrations in churches or events. They believed in me and encouraged me when I was weak. They were part
    of my audience. They loved to be in all my performances.

    Was it all about talent or you also got some training in music?

    Talent definitely has to be polished for the skill to come forth, so I am constantly training. I have done some voice training and jazz singing training. I still get trained in composition. Training is continuous.

    Tell us about some of your songs and the motivations for them.

    Oh, that is some task. I will summarise like this: the motivation for my first album, Hold On, was
    the confidence that I had something unique and timeless to offer to the world. My second work,
    The Father’s Heart, was the first ever live recording in Calabar. I was motivated by Integrity Music’s live recordings. It was a show of professionalism which I felt could be replicated. I needed people to relive the prophetic moments we had during that concert. The third work,
    Uduak Daniel Promo, was motivated by the need to keep in touch with my fans. I knew I would be on a long hiatus and had to tell them out of sight wasn’t out of mind. It was motivated by the transformation I had had off the scenes: the transformation of coming to terms with the fact that I was wired for the marketplace ministry in all ramifications.

    What else would I be using the degrees and experiences in the development world for if it wasn’t to understand my audience? Like Apostle Paul said, I am all things to all men. What it means is that I understand where those I am called to are. I understand the settings, the
    mindset, the language and perspectives.

    I can present a song in a way that will appeal to the intellectual. I do the genre that appeals to them; that is Jazz. I understand how the noble mind thinks. And I understand that even though they are scarce, God knows and loves them too. So here I am today. All these years, my prayers have always been for me to be where God wants me to be. I don’t think this prayer will change.

    Gospel music is a terrain where only a few artistes last. What is your staying power?

    Constant and consistent confirmations that I am doing what I ought to be doing. That I am
    reaching an audience many Gospel artists don’t reach. That I am an oracle of God, called to be a light. There is no higher calling.

    You are also a song writer. How do you combine that with singing?

    Again, it’s easy. I write when I need to write and sing when it’s time to sing. And when I find myself in a situation where I have to compose and at the same time sing on stage, because this is how most prophetic songs come, I know as a prophet that it is the right message for the time. I’m used to that. It is called Tehillah. The taste of the pudding is in the eating.

    Which has been your best concert?

    Hmm, I think my best concert so far has been the Colours Concert. That was in December 2016. It was my first after a six-year hiatus. It was in an exotic restaurant in Abuja, gated, well attended and very professional. I have had seven concerts between 2002 and 2017. At places
    like the poolside, showrooms, at the beach and in church. The last was the Kase Concert at the Marina Resort, Calabar.

    What other hobbies do you have apart from singing?

    Oh, I love to travel!

    If you have to choose between singing and your civil service career, which will you choose?
    That will be singing. All that I am right now is to equip me to deliver appropriately. This is the skill we are talking about. I know how to stand before the intellectual, high and low because I am an intellectual by God’s grace. I am just wired to sing. But I have been blessed to use both secular work and talent to contribute to the development of mankind.

    How about marriage?

    I’m married with two children.

    Music must have taken you to places. Tell us about some of your travels and what projects you are working on.

    Where do I start from? First, I have travelled to all the continents; at least one country in all the continents because I do a lot of work in the marketplace. I naturally perform at corporate events – AGMs, retreats, brand awareness and sensitizations. Amazing how corporate entities just
    want to know what the mind of God is for their businesses. One needs to be ‘silked’ to come before kings.

    What are you working on now?

    Right now, I am working on the post-production of the last two concerts; a collabo with some African artistes and concerts for the marketplace in Uyo, Lagos and, if possible, Port Harcourt. I look forward to ministering on churches’ platforms too. We have a lot of people in the marketplace who just want to enjoy mature and anointed gospel music in the church. I’m looking forward to teaching our churches how to do music that will get them in and not out of church.

    Christians deserve to be happy. No reason why someone will leave the world and come into church to cope with standards far below what they were used to!

    How would you describe yourself?

    I am very prayerful, understanding, loving, beautiful, hardworking, focused, fun-loving and
    passionate.

    What kind of clothes and accessories do you like wearing?

    I like the Pan African look, so I dress African most of the time. I like to be identified as a Nigerian so I wear Nigerian a lot. I design and I love to wear my designs. My style can be described as simple and sophisticated.

    I wear fitting accessories, but I really love wristwatches, rings and shoes. I can’t do without perfumes and watches. Sometimes belts too.

    Do you see more females coming into the music scene here in Nigeria now and in future?
    Sure. The field is ripe.

    Do you still find time to go into the kitchen to cook?

    Yes I do. I love decorating too.

    Can you also dance?

    Oh, I can dance very well.

    What do you value the most?

    Relationships.

    If you were not what you are now, what else would you have loved to be?

    I’m all I dreamt I would be; that is, a wife, mother, minister, musician, author, public speaker and
    researcher. I already have so much on my hands.

    What is your beauty secret?

    I eat healthy foods, exercise, pray and stay away from stress.

  • NACA: 200,000 people have HIV in Ibadan

    NACA: 200,000 people have HIV in Ibadan

    The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Sani Aliyu, has said 200,000 persons in Oyo State are living with the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) and the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

    The agency chief also said 50 persons contract HIV daily in the state.

    He added that only eight per cent of the affected persons were receiving treatment.

    Aliyu said about 10,000 expectant mothers were infected.

    The NACA chief said 180,000 Oyo State residents require HIV/AIDS treatment.

    Aliyu spoke yesterday when he visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi in Ibadan, the state capital, in company of other NACA officials.

    The NACA chief said the Federal Government only funded the treatment of five per cent of about 1.6 million AIDS patients, while the others were treated through global funding agencies.

    He said a large number of HIV carriers remained untreated due to inadequate funding for the control of AIDS by state governments, when compared with what global funding agencies committed to the fight against the scourge.

    Aliyu reiterated NACA’s calls for states to devote between 0.5 and 1 per cent of their Federal allocation to the control of AIDS so that more patients could be on treatment.

    He said: “We have a gap between the number of infected persons and those on treatment. We have a gap between infected expectant mothers and those receiving treatment. We also have issues with the number of new infections recorded.

    “About 10,000 expectant mothers in Oyo State are living with HIV and about 50 people contact HIV in the state on a daily basis. About 1,060,000 people are living with HIV in Nigeria, out of which only five per cent are currently on treatment, courtesy of the Federal Government.

    “We proposed to state governments to contribute 0.5 or one per cent of their Federal allocation towards HIV/AIDS. Such contribution by state governments would allow the states to put another 50 per cent of infected persons on treatment.

    “For instance, we have 16,000 already on treatment. If the state can put 0.5 per cent of the allocation, the state will be able to put 8,000 on treatment.”

    Ajimobi assured the delegation of his administration’s readiness to always partner relevant agencies to reduce AIDS in the state.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, said the state would continue to provide funding and institutional support to ensure that AIDS is reduced to the barest minimum.

    Dignitaries on the entourage included the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Rex Mpazanje; Executive Secretary, Oyo SACA, Mr Obatunde Oladapo and the Country Representative of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Dr Elasmus Moroh.

     

  • NACA, others hail govt on ARVs promise

    Nigeria has taken step to provide antiretrovirals (ARVs) for 50,000 additional people living with HIV each year.

    The country’s commitment was announced in a speech by President Muhammadu Buhari at the concluded high-level event convened by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, in collaboration with UNAIDS, at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States. The event was meant to accelerate action and get countries on the Fast Track to end AIDS by 2030.

    NACA Director-General, Dr Sani Aliyu, said everybody was encouraged by the enthusiasm that the Federal Government showed towards putting more financial resources into the HIV response. “This is one sure way of helping Nigeria to end AIDS by 2030,” said Dr Aliyu.

    NACA, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have welcomed President Buhari’s new commitment to provide antiretrovirals (ARVs) for 50,000 additional people living with HIV each year.

    UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Erasmus Morah, said UNAIDS is thrilled by the new momentum and firm commitments that Nigeria is bringing to its HIV response. “We are eager to support the process of putting more people living with HIV in Nigeria on treatment,” said the Dr Morah.

    “We recognise the impact of the global financing environment and the need for shared responsibility in order to end AIDS in Nigeria by 2030,” said President Buhari, who was represented by Dr Aliyu.

    “Thus, we have committed to increased domestic resourcing of the AIDS response. In the light of this, the government of Nigeria is committed to maintaining the current 60,000 plus clients on life-saving medicines and an additional 50,000 new clients per year,” President Buhari said.

    He announced that Nigeria had put more than one million people living with HIV on treatment.

    Other commitments announced by President Buhari included working with partners to conduct a national population-based HIV survey to gather new evidence to guide Nigeria’s response, a plan to establish a private-sector funded AIDS Trust Fund as well as securing of HIV funding commitments from the states.

    President Buhari also expressed commitment to offer an enabling environment for the local manufacture of antiretroviral drugs in support of Nigeria’s policy to immediately put any person, who tests positive for HIV on treatment.

    Present at the event was the King of Swaziland, Presidents of Malawi, Seychelles, Uganda and Zambia, Vice President of Botswana, representatives of the United States and China, the UNAIDS Executive Director, as well as representatives of people living with HIV.

  • ‘NACA job is my payback to Nigeria’

    ‘NACA job is my payback to Nigeria’

    Dr. Sani Aliyu only became Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA last year, but his passion and drive for reforms and success is already commendable. The MBBS graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria who had a stint at the State House Clinic before proceeding to the UK to pursue a graduate programme at the Imperial College, UK speaks with Frederick Adegboye on current issues and his agency’s aspirations in tackling HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. 

    Not too long ago, there was a report that N1billion worth of HIV drugs expired in the store. Isn’t this an indictment on our storage and distribution systems of the drugs in the country, when many Antiretroviral Centres and millions of People  Living with HIV/AIDS are unable to access the drugs?

    First, let me clarify that N1billion worth of drugs expiring is not new news. It is old news that happened several years ago. You are referring to the statement made by the Federal Minister of Health a few weeks ago. As far as NACA is concerned, we haven’t had any products expiring in recent times, and that is because the whole system is now a lot more strengthened in terms of distribution system. So, if you look at the quantification for instance, it’s now based on actual consumption. We know how many patients we have, we know how quickly they are going through their drugs and therefore the targets are more realistic unlike in the past. Secondly, we have more stakeholders who are involved in the process, unlike in the past when you had local people buying their own drugs, the federal ministry buying their own drugs, NACA buying their own drugs. Now what happens is we have a pool and everybody contributes to the pool.

    An HIV expert recently said that an HIV vaccine is possible. What is NACA doing in this regard?

    We have the National Institute for Medical Research; NACA doesn’t do primary basic science research of that nature because vaccine research is primary basic science research. We have the National Institute for Medical Research and they are working with us and other foreign partners. At the moment, there is no vaccine. The entire landscape of HIV and treatment changed because of science and 30 years ago, we didn’t have antiretroviral drugs; but now we have treatment and people are alive today. These medications were as a result of great strives done by scientists. As we speak, there is a certain amount of progress and the government of Nigeria is very much supportive of it. Sooner or later, science will find a way around HIV issue, but it’s not going to be now, it will take some years to get there.

    A friend living with HIV, who relocated to the United States last year, had cause to go to the hospital due to a health challenge, and when she showed the health personnel the drug she was using, was told that it was old and outdated. Why are outdated drugs still being administered in Nigeria?

    Everybody likes to have the latest model of everything. For example, when a new Mercedes Benz comes out, everybody wants to have it, but it doesn’t mean that the old model will not take you to your destination. The drugs we use in Nigeria are drugs that are commonly used abroad. I lived and worked in the UK for almost 20 years and most of my works are on pills medication. I can tell you the drugs that we use now used to be the commonest antiretroviral drugs in the UK about two years ago and the reason there is some gradual movement to newer ones is simply because the drugs over there are more affordable than here. Over here, if you introduce those drugs for instance, one cost N130,000 per month per patient, while the ones now is N50,000 per year per patient and is very tolerable. As we speak, 91 percent of the entire cost of the treatment programme is being sponsored by our external partners. The government of Nigeria pays and is responsible for 7 percent of the treatment cost and 27 percent of the whole management of HIV. And that is because government is responsible for the salaries, and for the infrastructure. Then if you check all that out, you will discover that 7 percent of patients is being sponsored by the Nigerian government, while 91 percent is being sponsored by external governments. So if you ask me, I’d say it is better to use those drugs to serve as many people as possible than introduce a N130,000 per month drug that may not go round.

    Are you satisfied with the state of the national call centre? If not, what do you think can be done to make it more effective and beneficial?

    We have the national call centre and for those who don’t know, the number is 6222. We have had the call centre for some time now. It’s one of the major successes of NACA and is sponsored by our partners, Etisalat. At the moment, only Etisalat and Airtel are our partners, but we want the big guys to come in.  We are already appealing to the telecommunications companies to come and help us make this call centre very successful. It will not cost them a lot but the returns will be huge because we send messages on prevention, and the messages we provide will enable young people to protect themselves. We will also provide information on where to go for your HIV test and where to seek treatment, as well as information regarding other health issues. There are challenges of running the call centre, such as electricity, facilities and equipment. We are appealing to our partners to come and help us make the centre a very successful one.

    Do you plan to employ people living openly with HIV, to at least give a human face to the agency?

    I am sorry I cannot answer that for confidential reasons. To be honest with you, I don’t even know how many of my staff are HIV positive. But what I can say is that stigma and discrimination still exists.  And it’s really important that we eliminate this. People living with HIV are our brothers and sisters, they are family members; HIV is just a virus. That a person carries the virus does not mean that he or she is any less human. I will like to see a situation where HIV will be considered as a normal disease just like diabetes and hypertension, and if you take your drug and treatment, you will be fine and able to have a normal life. Same with employment, there shouldn’t be any discrimination or stigma of people living with HIV. Here in NACA, we have a strong opinion about this and we support people living with HIV because they are the reason we exist as an agency. We are here for them, and we are their strongest advocate.

    When it comes to both diagnosis and treatment, my strong opinion is that the country needs to take up responsibility of the HIV programme. It is a Nigerian problem and needs to be sorted out by Nigerians. When you look at sustainability, it’s not just about the money, but living in the right environment; the right political environment, making sure that the services are there, the systems are there and the resources are there to deliver them. So it’s a long-term thing, but that’s what we are concentrating on. We will like to see a situation where in the next few years, the government of Nigeria takes responsibility. It’s however a tall order because the resources are limited. The US government takes care of 700,000 HIV patients; the Global Fund takes care of 200,000 while the federal government currently takes care of 64,000.

    On a lighter note, why did you study Medicine and not Biochemistry, Engineering or any of the other pure sciences?

    Actually, I wanted to do something else in the university. But I have a twin brother who was studying Medicine and my parents convinced me to join him to study Medicine. And I think it is the best mistake I have made in my life. It’s a profession that I really enjoy; I enjoy having good relationship with my patients. Medicine is a very fulfilling career. I don’t think if I had done Architecture, which was what I wanted to do, or pharmacy, I would have had a more fulfilling career.

    What do you do for hobby?

    Believe me, this job is amazingly busy and my family is not here; so I don’t have a reason to do anything else.  I like playing with my children, I love books, I love reading; so to relax, I often read books. And history books about Nigerian history and books about the 1900s and how the Europeans came into Nigeria are my favourites. I love books in general. In terms of sports, once in a while I go out to run; I cycled a lot when I was living in the UK.  But let me say that I consider this job my own contribution to the nation because I believe that I owe Nigeria a lot. I was able to do medicine because during our time, we didn’t pay much. Our parents didn’t pay much for our university education; it was mostly paid for by government, so we owe it to our government to contribute and I hope that in the next few years, especially in the field of HIV, we will be able to change the landscape.

  • HIV: FG introduces new guidelines to curtail spread

    HIV: FG introduces new guidelines to curtail spread

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said it was set to implement new guidelines for  HIV prevention, treatment and care to consolidate previous efforts in tackling the scourge.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, stated this at the opening of a two-day North-West Zonal Dissemination of 2016 National Guidelines for HIV prevention, Treatment and Care in Kaduna.

    Represented by Mr Segilola Araoye, his Special Adviser, Adewole said the guideline would ensure that those affected by HIV receive free health service at all levels in both public and private health institutions.

    “From this day hence, everyone who tests positive to HIV is automatically eligible for treatment and this applies to everyone with equal emphasis, child, man and women, pregnant or not.

    “From today onward we are duty bound to offer antiretroviral drugs as prevention to all persons who are at high risk of contracting HIV infection.

    “From today forward all persons on treatment are entitled to at least one viral load test per year.

    “From today hence, we will place greater emphasis on differentiated systems of care that are adjustable to the individual needs of the patient,’’ the minister said.

    Adewole noted that the recommendations in the 2016 guidelines by current standard were audacious, unambiguous and unapologetically pro-patient.

    The minister, however, appealed to state governments and other stakeholders to efficiently implement the recommendations of the guidelines to the later in an effort to tackle the menace.

    “For this to happen, we must change course a bit and find the courage to depart from the strategies that have not worked well.

    “The guidelines could not have come at a less opportune moment, as they will serve as the necessary catalyst for attainment of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 initiative.

    “And today, we hopefully bring to end the argument over deeply divisive option B and option B+ saga if our guidelines have been careful, to avoid the terms perhaps, it is time we stopped using them all together,“ the minister said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes available statistics showing that no fewer than 3.4 million people are currently affected by the HIV and AIDS scourge.

    However, the health minister said, with the 2016 guidelines things would be better, as there were already 860,000 patients on Anti-retro-viral treatment (ART) in some 1000 comprehensive HIV treatment centres.

    According to him, that has led to the decline morbity and mortality associated with HIV and AIDS in the country.

    “I simply cannot accept that our collective hard work against HIV and AIDS in Nigeria is wasted effort.

    “I accept that things can be done better but even at that we have achieved tremendous success in our battle against HIV.

    “And I am strengthened in this belief by the change in public perception from the fear, panic hysteria and horror of 2000 to the calm (Please be careful HIV is still out there) attitude that is the prevailing public sentiment about HIV and AIDS today,’’ he said.

    Adewole said these guidelines would work because they were acceptable to the vast majority of stakeholders.

    “They are acceptable because they are the product of huge and representative stakeholders consensus, with over 170 people contributed to the development of this document.’’

    He commended the various stakeholders for contributing to the development of the document and advised non-governmental organisations supporting the health sector and HIV interventions to work closely with the ministry.

    Adewole while thanking the states governments for their active role the fight against HIV and AIDS, appealed to People PLHIVs to come on board as stakeholders in the effort to eradicate the scourge.

    NAN reports that officials from eight states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara Zamfara and Jigawa are attending the two-day event.

    The event, being organised by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and the Management Sciences for Health, is also being attended by and other HIV control implementing partners.

  • NACA , NiBUCAA partner

    NACA , NiBUCAA partner

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) have collaborated on determining the statistics of the prevalence of HIV in Nigeria.

    This was made known when the NiBUCAA Executive Committee led by Dr. Gertrude Bassey,  visited NACA Director-General Dr. Sani Aliyu in Abuja.

    Aliyu said another target his agency was determined to achieve is Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) which has been achieved by other countries; and the sustainability of HIV and AIDS programming in Nigeria. He stated that foreign donor fund has reduced and the 12 percent budgeted by the Federal Government was grossly inadequate coupled with the challenges in the release of the fund.

    Aliyu noted that sustainability of HIV programming in Nigeria wass centred around collaboration with the private sector of which NiBUCAA has a prominent role. He expressed delight with the inauguration of the NiBUCAA new co-chairs, stating that NACA was looking forward to collaborating with them.

    He said sustainability would be achieved if the private sector could partner with government and set up a fund to be managed by the sector for transparency and accountability.

    He said  if funds were put together, it would be easy to procure commodities and distribute to state and private hospitals where patients can have easy access to treatment,saying with such synergy,  goals will be achieved in no time. On implementation of HIV programme, he agreed that the private sector will implement the setting up of the Trust Fund, procurement of commodities and distribution.

    NiBUCAA representatives assured that the purpose of the meeting was to explore greater collaboration under the new agency strategic focus and agreed on greater collaboration and synergy for efficiency, accountability and transparency.

  • Senate wants scientific verification of HIV/AIDS cure claims

    Senate wants scientific verification of HIV/AIDS cure claims

    The Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases has called for scientific verification of claims to discovery of cure for HIV/AIDS.

    A Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology, Prof. Maduike Ezeibe, had last week, announced the discovery of a curative drug for HIV/AIDS.

    However, the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, (NACA) had dismissed Prof. Ezeibe’s claims on grounds that there was no cure yet for the scourge.

    But at a budget defence session yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa directed NACA and other relevant health agencies to interface with Prof. Ezeibe, with the view to subjecting his claims to scientific verification.

    Ohuabunwa expressed displeasure with NACA for dismissing the Professor’s claims without scientific verification, in line with standard practices the world over.

    NACA had continued to insist that there was no scientific basis in Prof Ezeibe’s claims, as enunciated by the university teacher in a presentation.

    In a statement signed by the Director General of NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu, the agency stated in a reaction to the claim, “The claim for HIV/AIDS cure is not new. It is also not new to find a scientist using ambiguous scientific methods and practices to buttress this claim; and to find obscure journals increasingly prepared to publish these claims”.

    Media report quoted the claimant as having said that the drug contained Aluminum Magnesium Silicate and that it had been tested on 10 individuals living with HIV.

    The Professor was also quoted to have claimed that the drug has a clinical outcome of the ability to reach all cells and making HIV “a conquered organism”.

    The Senate committee also took the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) up on the matter, describing its position on the issue as hasty.

    The Executive Secretary of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, had earlier admitted before the Senate committee that the agency was aware of the claim, but that it dismissed it just the way NACA did.

    Shuaib had told the committee that he was in agreement with his counterpart in NACA, saying that the study quoted by Prof Ezeibe did not conform to standard ethical protocols for clinical trials.

    The NACA DG however admitted that the study quoted by Ezeibe did show evidence that he obtained ethical clearance from an appropriate body in Nigeria to conduct the study.

    But the NACA boss added that the Professor quoted only ambiguous evidence that informed consent was sought from the evidently vulnerable patients.  “

    “We are concerned that the publicity given to these claims will stop patients from taking life-saving antiretrovirals and give them false hope of a cure.

    “It will be a great disservice to this vulnerable group of patients for the media to disseminate these claims in absence of sound scientific evidence”, the NACA DG stated.

     

  • Valentine’s Day: NACA warns Nigerians on ‘risky’ behaviour

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) on Friday advised Nigerians to avoid engaging in risky behaviour especially during Valentine’s Day celebrations.

    Valentine’s Day celebration comes up on February 14.

    The Head of Corporate Communication Unit of NACA, Mrs. Toyin Aderibigbe, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja.

    Aderibigbe described Valentine’s Day as a season of affection, urging Nigerians to share and show love responsibly.

    She said by behaving responsibly Nigerians can halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.

    “It is important that young people are equipped with information to ensure that Valentine’s Day is celebrated by showing love to those we care about in a safe and responsible manner,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the NACA spokesperson as saying in the statement.

    “As we celebrate love, we should remember that safe sex is not just about protecting ourselves, but also protecting those we love.”

  • NACA canvasses increased funding for HIV/AIDS

    NACA canvasses increased funding for HIV/AIDS

    For the country to meet the 2030 date set for the elimination of HIV/AIDS, all  tiers of government must increase funding for programmes, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Director-General Dr. Sani Aliyu has said.

    According to NACA, about 180,000 still die yearly of the disease in the country, with 700 new infections daily. Of the over three million people living with the virus, only about 800,000 are on treatment.

    The gap has been blamed on the country’s inability to fund the HIV/AIDS treatment programme.

    Aliyu pointed out that the fight against the scourge had yielded significant results, such as reduction in mother-to-child transmission, decreasing new infections and death.

    Aliyu, who spoke in Abuja at the opening of the Third National Council on AIDS, with the theme: “Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS Response: Taking charge of our destiny”, said if the country must win the battle  to eliminate the disease, it must act now.

    He said with dwindling donor fund, the states have no choice but to take ownership of the programme by providing funding.

    “For those of you who have budget line for the disease, I urge that you keep it up, and for those who don’t have budget line for HIV, now is the time to do so. We should know that donor funds are dwindling.”

    Aliyu said: “We should be getting people to understand the fact they are not only to survive the transmission, but that the epidemic should be defeated. It is interesting to note that collectively, Nigeria has achieved so much in terms of ART coverage and reduction in AIDS-related deaths.  As at December 2015, there were about 1,078 health facilities offering ART services across the country. Over the last three decades, Nigeria has made tremendous progress by placing about  800,000  persons  on  HIV  treatment,  including  44,000 children, by testing over seven million people in 2014 only and having about 2.7 million pregnant women having a HIV test in 2015, with 54,000 placed on treatment.

    “As a result of these achievements, the number of people dying from AIDS-related causes in Nigeria has fallen by as much as 54 percent in the 10 years up to 2013. These successes would not have been possible  without  the  support  of  donors,  partners  and  other stakeholders  working  on  the  national  response.  Despite these strides, we still have a long way to go if Nigeria is to achieve the UNAIDS 90:90:90 targets.

    We cannot afford to be left behind as the rest of the world fast tracks towards ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. With  the  challenges  of  inadequate  domestic  funding, shrinking donor support, a weak health care supporting system, and  a  poorly  coordinated  national  response.  The impact of HIV/AIDS in our country cannot be over emphasised.”

    He noted: “Between 2009 and 2014, the amount committed to HIV and AIDS funding was mostly by the donor/international community of about 70 percent.

  • NACA plans HIV prevention conference

    Ahead of the World AIDS day, over 250 participants have registered for the upcoming national scientific conference on HIV prevention process billed for Abuja on 29th and 30th of this month. The conference organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) is part of activities to commemorate World AIDS Day 2016, under the theme Hands on for HIV prevention.

    According to Head, Corporate Communications Unit, NACA, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe ‘Hands on for Prevention’, signifies the fact that Nigeria’s national response aligns with the present global direction of increasing HIV prevention efforts.  The conference aims at showcasing the achievements, discussing the lessons learnt and seeking to set the pace for tackling prevention gaps

    Mrs Aderibigbe said all intending participants are encouraged to register online through the Conference’s website: http://www.hivprevention2016.com.ng/ because, “the Nigeria HIV Prevention Conference 2016 will bring together a range of experts to advance knowledge, present new research findings, as well as promote and enhance science and community collaborations. It will also be a platform for discussions on the development of new strategies for addressing HIV, especially in the area of HIV prevention.