Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said that Nigeria is yet to significantly progress in eliminating HIV transmission between mothers and children and ensuring that all children born HIV-positive receive quality care.
The Minister, who spoke at the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric AIDS Acceleration Plan Committee Launch in Abuja, said service coverage for paediatric HIV care and the elimination of HIV transmission between mothers and children have remained below 35 percent year after year in the country.
Dr Alausa stated that despite testing appropriately 4 million pregnant women in 2023, Nigeria’s PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage remain at about 35 percent, falling significantly short of the 95 percent target.
He claimed that there hasn’t been any appreciable advancement in Nigeria’s Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children Action Plan, which was created in 2021 to increase access to paediatric HIV care and end HIV transmission between mothers and their children.
The Minister declared that in reversing the trend, the Ministry and its other partners will facilitate efficient, equitable, and quality healthcare to ensure that no child is born HIV positive and that those who are positive receive quality care.
He said, “I have decided to provide personal leadership to this programme component. I will work closely with the committee to review implementation and track data regularly, ensuring that we reverse the negative narratives of our contribution to the global burden of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
“Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and ensuring care for all persons living with HIV, especially our children, align with the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President. As a country, this is a moral duty we owe to this generation.
“While primarily addressing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and paediatric HIV, this initiative will also improve our antenatal coverage, health outcomes for women of childbearing age, and under-5 mortality rates.
“We will also create state committees to track their state responses and provide feedback to us at the national level.”
Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Temitope Ilori, said in a welcome address that Nigeria faces a critical challenge in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and ensuring access to care for children living with HIV.
According to her, “Our epidemiological estimates say 140,000 children under 14 are living with HIV as of 2023, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths in children,” despite a comprehensive strategy and accompanying financial commitment for PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage.
Dr Ilori added, “I long to see that no child is born HIV-positive in Nigeria. I know that together we can change this infamous narrative of Nigeria’s contribution to the global burden of PMTCT and paediatric HIV. An AIDS-Free Generation is Possible, and Together We Can Achieve It!”
PEPFAR Nigeria’s country coordinator, Funmi Adesanya, stated that the government should be praised for taking action to address the pressing problem of the country’s low PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage.
Earlier, the wife of Kwara State Governor, Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, stated that, as critical stakeholders, the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum is committed to supporting this drive to achieve this important national milestone.
To ensure that AIDS is eradicated from our communities by 2030, she also demanded that sensitization campaigns about PMTCT and paediatric HIV be increased.
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