Nigeria is taking proactive steps to ensure the continued availability of HIV treatment despite the current pause in the United States government’s funding, the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Program, NASCP, of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has said.
Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, the National Coordinator of the programme, stated in a statement that NASCP reaffirms to recipients of care that there are sufficient stocks of antiretroviral medication for both prevention and treatment in all designated Antiretroviral Therapy, ART, sites nationwide.
According to him, the organisation and key implementing partners developed a framework and roadmap for the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B in the country.
He said, “This is in tandem with the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign in Nigeria led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”;
Bashorun stated that the campaign aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of these diseases by 2030, focusing on women of reproductive age and ensuring treatment for affected children.
NASCP, according to him, also conducted the national HIV products quantification to address programme needs for 2025–2029, stressing that it underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring commodity security for the National Treatment and PMTCT Programme (NTPP).
Whilst putting in place several response mechanisms aimed at reducing the impact of HIV and ensuring that people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Nigeria receive quality services, he explained that NASCP undertook Family Index Testing (FIT) data validation across 15 states and the FCT to ensure sustainable improvements in data management and systems strengthening.
According to him, there was also coordination and generation of estimates for the national HIV programme in Nigeria, pointing out that it will enable informed decisions that ensure improved programme implementation in the country.
He added that the review of annual national-level data and performance was also carried out, saying that it stemmed from the essential need to track programme performance and address data quality issues across the board.
