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Tag: National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)

  • NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    In a significant stride towards combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) have solidified their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    The partnership aims to bolster HIV prevention efforts, reduce mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and eliminate stigma against individuals living with HIV across the country.

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    NOA, renowned for its extensive grassroots communication network spanning 774 local governments, joins forces with NACA’s specialised expertise in HIV response. Together, they plan to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns utilising diverse channels such as radio, television social media, town halls and community engagements. These initiatives are designed to ensure the inclusive and widespread dissemination of crucial information.

    Key components of the collaboration include the training of state directors and health desk officers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

    Additionally, the partnership will see the introduction of interactive phone-in radio programmes on 199 partner stations and the rollout of HIV-themed billboard campaigns nationwide.

  • HIV: National survey on AIDS out by March 2019

    …75 per cent of the country covered 

     

    The result of the national survey of people living with HIV/AIDS will be out early next year, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu has said.

    Aliyu who spoke yesterday in Abuja while addressing the media on the 2018 World AIDS day celebration also said works will be completed by this December.

    In Nigeria, 2018 World AIDS Day commemoration is taking place under the theme: Know your status.

    This year marks the 30th anniversary of the First World AIDS Day. Events to commemorate the 2018 World AIDS Day have commenced with a call on all stakeholders to work towards realising the importance of HIV testing in order for people to know their HIV status. 

    World AIDS Day is held each year on 1st December. It is an opportunity for every community to unite against HIV, show support for people living with the disease and remember those who have passed away due to AIDS.

    NACA DG revealed that that the survey has been carried out 27 states of the Federation, which represent 75 per cent of the entire work.

    The survey was embark upon early this year to determine the actual number of Nigerians living with the virus. The agency had argued that previous records branded by the country was based on guest work and not through a verifiable means.

    He said: “The result of the survey will be out hopefully by March. We have done at least 75per cent of the 36 states in the federation. We are now in web 5 and 6 of the survey. And by the end of this week and early next week we will have only about 6 states left to go. And we expect the field work will finish by 21st of December.

    ” There may be a need to do some cleaning up in early January. We are now dealing with states that have either difficult terrain or security concerns. So we are going on to Borno, Yobe, Zamfara and Benue. But you will get the results and the result will be interesting and it will provide us with more leverage to get more resources for the HIV programme,” he said.

    Read Also: HIV/AIDS: Oyo records low level of stigma cases

    On end Mother to child transition of HIV, Aliyu noted that the country is still facing some challenges as “only about 50% of pregnant women come for ante natal care.”

    He however said the agency will continue to embark on awareness programmes so as to get more pregnant women attend ante natal care.

    Speaking on the World AIDS Day, he said “it is an opportunity to remind the public of the importance of testing for HIV. Having a HIV test is an essential step towards accessing life-saving HIV treatment. As we progress towards putting everybody living with HIV in Nigeria on treatment, NACA will continue to push for increased resources to be dedicated for HIV prevention activities, which include improved access to HIV testing and widespread availability of self-test kits. Get a HIV test today, it may be the most important decision you take and could save your life.”

    “The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day “Know your status” is particularly apt since the Country’s 2017 treatment data shows that the main challenge towards attainment of the country’s targets is that of having many people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status.UNAIDS launched the new report on ‘Knowledge is power’ that highlights how providing a variety of testing options and services, such as community-based testing and home-based testing, can help mitigate many of the logistical, structural and social barriers to HIV testing”said the UNAIDS Country Director, Nigeria, Rex Mpazanji.              

    One of the highlights of this year’s national commemoration will be a formal ceremony with participation from high level government officials, representatives of people living with HIV, development partners, as well as adolescents and young people. Participants will listen to speeches on issues related to HIV testing under the theme ‘know your status’.

    A series of activities are planned across the country, including voluntary HIV testing and counselling on the streets, markets, church, mosque, IDP camp and other places. A strong social media engagement is underway to link people living with HIV, young people, women and girls’ networks and associations with decision makers at all levels. 

  • SGF to induct Board chairmen, members on Corporate Governance

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha will on Thursday 26th July, 2018 open an induction programme for recently appointed Board Chairmen and Members, on Corporate Governance in their agencies.

    A statement by Lawrence Ojabo, Director Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that it aims at establishing and promoting good board governance culture rooted in the Federal Public Service Precepts, Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Organisational values.

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    “The Heads of EFFC, ICPC, BPP and a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will facilitate the programme, which ends on Saturday 28th July, 2018”

    Agencies invited to the programme are Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).

    Others are Galaxy Backbone, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRIMI) and Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

  • Don’t discriminate against workers living with HIV/AIDS – NACA

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS ( NACA ) has cautioned employers of labour in the country not to discriminate against their employees with HIV.

    Dr Sani Aliyu, the Director-General, gave the advice in a statement issued by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol of the agency, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe, in Abuja on Monday.

    The DG said that cases of employment-related stigma and discrimination remained a major challenge to ending AIDS epidemic by 2030.

    The statement quoted Aliyu as saying: “The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has become one of the most critical workplace issues in our time.

    “The unequal treatment of workers based on their HIV status in the workplace is a clear breach of their right to gainful employment.

    “People living with HIV/AIDS have a fundamental right to work just like everybody else, stigma and discrimination are potent threats to this right, and undermine opportunities for people to obtain decent employment.”

    Aliyu said that the agency would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and organisations to achieve the goal of eliminating stigma and discrimination in workplaces.

    “The continuous engagement of relevant stakeholders has led to strengthen capacity for compliance and effective implementation of HIV workplace policies.

    “It has also built capacities on available options for addressing discrimination including redress, and made available legal services for survivors of human rights violations,” he said.

    The DG added that the agencies and organisations involved in the advocacy included the International Labour Organisation, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment among others.

    He noted that the collaboration would ensure that employers comply with the provisions of the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS, and the National HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act.

    We recall that the HIV and AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Bill was signed into law in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Act makes it illegal to discriminate against people because of their HIV status.

    It also prohibits any employer, individual or organisation from requiring a person to take HIV test as a precondition for employment.

    NAN

  • Ending HIV, AIDS by 2030: NACA extends strategic outreach programme

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says it has further extended its Strategic Travelers’ Outreach Programme (STOP) to some West African states as one of the approaches aimed at ending HIV and AIDS in 2030.

    Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, NACA, said in Abuja on Friday that the agency would conduct sensitisation programme as part of STOP on the platform of Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO).

    He said the success of the previous STOP programme in 2013 along key transport corridors in Kano (Wudil), Kogi (Obajana), Enugu (Obollo-Afor) and Ogun (Shagamu), informed the choice of ALCO as a veritable platform for sensitising more people to the need for fighting HIV and AIDS.

    According to him, NACA engages a reputable AIDS service organisation and through a collaborative and community-driven process, designs STOP which has been useful as one of the approaches to stopping HIV and AIDS.

    He said the previous survey revealed several social structures indicative of high levels of transactional sex.

    “The associated knowledge, attitude and practice survey showed that a majority of respondents were sexually active transport workers and over a third of them had between two and five sex partners within a year.

    He also said 62 per cent of transport workers reported more than one regular sexual partner, observing that only 7 per cent of the respondents reported mean sex with their spouses.

    “Majority of respondents knew a location where they could get tested but only about half of the respondents had ever been tested for HIV.

    “Knowledge about condoms was high, with 93 per cent having heard about condoms at all the survey sites but only 70 per cent of all the respondents reported having ever used a condom.

    “The assessment also showed that there are still gaps between the knowledge of HIV and sexual behavior necessary to curb the spread of HIV as well as high risk behavior along the transport corridors of Nigeria.

    Read Also: NACA to check high prevalence of HIV among key populations

    He said the findings would enable NACA and other stakeholders plan and pilot interventions to identify and address policy issues and develop relevant strategies for effective interventions.

    According to him, the goal of NACA is to address all HIV and AIDS challenge prevalent in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire corridors through the support of ALCO.

    Speaking on the importance of transport workers in the programme, Dr Anthonia Ekpa, a director in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, said it was imperative to stimulate them for the purpose of getting them to know what their responsibilities ought to be in that regard.

    “We have an overriding responsibility to bring them together in the ministry and advise them on what to do as they constitute sections of the society

    In his remark, Dr Erasmus Morah, Country Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), applauded ALCO initiative.

    He said transport workers and those who could identify themselves as sex workers were involved in the programme because their activities affected the economy and social life that needed collaboration.

    ALCO is a sub-regional organisation that supports policies for development, health and free movement in its member states Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo.

    ALCO is an actor in the coalition’s health to identify and validate currently known key drivers in the management of the epidemic in the corridors.

    NAN

     

  • NACA to check high prevalence of HIV among key populations

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS ( NACA ), on Thursday, is to begin work with stakeholders to check the high prevalence of HIV among key populations including homosexuals.

    The NACA Programme Officer, Ms Favor Iyamu, made this pledge at an interactive media meeting organised by the International Centre for Advocacy on Right to Health in Abuja on Thursday.

    Iyamu explained that men, who had sex with men also known as MSM were among the key populations with rising cases of HIV prevalence now higher than that of the general population.

    She said that an integrated biological surveillance survey of 2014 had also shown that the HIV prevalence among this group of people increased from 13.6 per cent in 2007 to 22.9 percent in 2014.

    Read Also: NACA to youths: avoid risky behaviour

    According to her, this group of people believes that HIV cannot be contracted through the way they have intercourse.

    “It is important we work with stakeholders to reduce this high prevalence in MSM in our quest to fight the scourge of HIV in the country.

    “Every person or group is important and no population is more important than the other,” she said.

    Iyamu said that NACA was committed to work with relevant stakeholders and nongovernmental organisations to eradicate HIV in the country.

    NAN

  • 200,000 living with HIV in Oyo – NACA DG

    200,000 living with HIV in Oyo – NACA DG

    Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS ( NACA ) says an estimated 200,000 people are living with HIV in Oyo State.

    He made the disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan during a courtesy call on Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at the executive council chamber of the governor’s office.

    The delegation led by Aliyu, included representatives of relevant international donor and funding agencies like WHO.

    Aliyu stated that only 16,000 out of the estimated 200, 000 persons living with HIV in the state are currently on treatment.

    “We have a gap between the number of infected persons and those on treatment. We have a gap between infected pregnant women and those receiving treatment.

    “We also have issues with the number of new infections recorded,’’ he said.

    The NACA boss stated that 10, 000 pregnant women in Oyo State are living with HIV, adding that about 50 people contact HIV in the state on a daily basis.

    He stated that the state has a considerable figure in terms of new infections, commending the state government for running one of the best programmes on HIV/AIDS.

    Aliyu said that there are 1,060,000 people living with HIV in Nigeria, out of which only five percent were currently on treatment courtesy of the Nigerian government.

    The NACA boss stated that about one million Nigerians are currently on treatment on the bills of the international donor agencies.

    He said that NACA had proposed to the state government to contribute 0.5 or One percent of their federal allocation towards HIV/AIDS.

    Aliyu stated that 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 percent of the allocation, the state will be able to put 8,000 on treatment,’’ he said.

    He assured the governor that they are willing to work with his government to ensure that people living with HIV across the state have access to quality and affordable treatment.

    In his response, Gov. Ajimobi assured the delegation of his administration’s readiness to partner with them to bring the figure of infected people to a barest minimum if not totally eradicated.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo said his administration would support the donor agencies with funds and human capital towards the eradication in the state.

    NAN

  • Edo to partner FG on HIV/AIDS management

    Edo to partner FG on HIV/AIDS management

    The Edo State Government is to partner with the Federal Government to close the existing gaps in the management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

    Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this on Wednesday when he played host to the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, who led a delegation of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and implementing partners on an advocacy visit to Government House, Benin City, on Wednesday.

    Obaseki said his administration was committed to strengthening health systems to allow for effective management of diseases which include HIV/AIDs, and added that a committee with representatives of NACA would be set up to come up with an Action Plan on the models and strategies for the effective management of the disease in the state.

    “It is important that we contain HIV, but there are some key things we need to do. We also need laboratories and the right management models to make it work,” he added.

    Earlier, the Minister of Health who was represented by Dr. Evelyn Ngige, Director for Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health, said there was the need for the state government to increase funding for HIV/AIDS activities.

    Adewole explained that there was still a wide gap between those who require HIV care and treatment and those who can access it in Edo State. He disclosed that an estimated 173,660 persons were living with the virus in the state while 25, 730 Persons living with the virus were on Anti-Retroviral treatment.

    The minister said that the state in 2016 spent N5, 000,000 on the State’s Sustainability Road Map (SRM) for the disease. He said the estimated project cost to implement the SRM in the state was about N271, 432, 118.

    “We want Edo to earmark at least 0.5 to one per cent of its monthly federal allocation for the funding of HIV/AIDs Sustainability Road Map and the provision of HIV/AIDs commodities in the state,” the minister said.

  • Nigerian community in U.S. mourns Osotimehin

    Nigerian community in U.S. mourns Osotimehin

    The Nigerian community in the U.S., Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), has expressed sadness over the death of  Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

    Osotimehin, a former Nigerian Minister of Health, died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 68.

    OAN dedicates efforts toward enhancing the image of Nigerians in the U.S. and addressing the negative stereotypes of Nigerians in the American media.

    It has been highlighting the positive contributions of the vast majority of Nigerians to the American society since 1989.

    In a statement in New York on Wednesday, OAN President Solomon Bakare said the late UNFPA chief spent his life fighting for access to public health for women and girls across the world.

    “The president and members of Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) were saddened by the sudden death of Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, the UNFPA Head and former Minister of Health.

    “He was a selfless and fearless leader who spent his life fighting for access to public health for women, girls and children across the globe.

    “His contribution to global public health is forever engraved in the hearts of many lives he helped to save.

    “We thank his family for sharing Dr Osotimehin with the world; and we pray that God will comfort you during this difficult time.

    “May the patriotic and humane soul of Dr Babatunde Osotimehin rest in perfect peace,” Bakare said.

    Osetimehin was also  a Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Nigeria.

  • Nigeria’s envoy pays condolence visit to Osotimehin’s family

    Nigeria’s envoy pays condolence visit to Osotimehin’s family

    Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muhammad-Bande was received by Dr Babajide Osotimehin, the deceased son, on behalf of the family on Monday evening.

    Nigeria’s envoy expressed the condolences of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, to the family.

    He described the late Osotimehin as an accomplished and distinguished professional who made Nigeria proud during the period he served at the UN.

    According to him, Osotimehin’s death is an irreparable loss not only to Nigeria but to the UN and the entire global community.

    The Nigerian ambassador later signed the Condolence Register opened at the residence of the late UNFPA chief.

    Muhammad-Bande was accompanied on the condolence visit by the Head of Chancery of the Permanent Mission, Dr Cyprian Heen.

    Osotimehin died in his home in New York Sunday night at the age of 68 years.

    A physician and public health expert, he became UNFPA’s fourth Executive Director on Jan. 1, 2011, with the rank of United Nations Under-Secretary-General.

    Before this appointment, the late UNFPA chief was Nigeria’s Minister of Health.

    Prior to that, he was Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), which coordinated HIV and AIDS work in Nigeria.

    Osotimehin qualified as a doctor from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1972, and went to the University of Birmingham, England, where he got a doctorate in medicine in 1979.

    He was appointed Professor at the University of Ibadan in 1980 and headed the Department of Clinical Pathology before being elected Provost of the College of Medicine in 1990.

    Osotimehin received the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger in December 2005.

    He led several councils, including the World Economic Forum.

    Osotimehin was married, had five children and several grandchildren.