*PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI LAUNCHES 62.1BILLION NAIRA PRIVATE SECTOR-LED HIV TRUST FUND.*
President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the 62.1 billion naira private sector-led HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria.
At the launch in the banquet hall of the Presidential villa Abuja, President Buhari expressed commitment towards partnering with the private sector in ending the epidemic by 2030.
President Buhari said the launch of the HIV trust fund of Nigeria was an answer to the call by the United Nations general assembly meeting on the need for African countries to fashion out ways of increasing domestic funding for HIV and Aids.
While commending the stakeholders for instituting the fund, the President urged them to galvanize more resources to totally eradicate HIV aids in the country.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, stressed the importance of private sector participation in health responses to reduce Nigeria’s over dependence on foreign aid.
He also sighted example with the CACOVID which galvanized funds for COVID-19 response in the country as a testimony to the fact that private sector involvement in public health responses was key to national development.
For the director general, National agency for the control of aids, NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu, even though their have been some achievements in the fight against the virus, Nigeria still has the highest burden of mother to child transmission of HIV and aids, hence the need for more financial support.
The Executive Director, UNAIDS, Ms Winnie Byanyima, who noted that 2 out of 3 pregnant Nigerian women do not have access to HIV testing during pregnancy, called for a holistic approach for the eradication of the disease in the country.
A member of the National Association of People Living With HIV and AIDS, Hadiza Ibrahim, shared her success story on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.
She said after been tested positive to the virus, she started Treatment and has since then give birth to five children with all being HIV negative.
For Africa’s business tycoon, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, their is need for a sustained 50/50 partnership between the Federal Government and the private sector to achieve total eradication of HIV and AIDS.
The theme of the event is ” a nigeria without mother to child transmission of HIV is possible when we all play our part.”
EMMANUEL KUTARA
