Abuja, 02 December 2016 - The campaign against the spread of the deadly AIDS virus in Nigeria on 01 December, 2016   received a major boost with the launch of National Guidelines for HIV prevention, treatment and care to fast track plan of action towards achieving the 90-90-90- targets. His Excellency, President Muhammadu launched the document to commemorate the 2016 World AIDS Day commemoration at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Unveiling the guidelines, President Buhari regretted that “of the 35 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the world, about 3.2 million of them are in Nigeria accounting for almost 10% of the global burden, hence tackling the scourge of the disease in the country is a priority for Nigeria". He consequently restated government’s unwavering commitment, renewed political will and drive towards strengthening the country’s HIV response system to effectively eliminate the AIDS epidemic the disease by 2030.

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole who represented the President at the event, further reaffirmed government’s resolve to institute transparency, accountability and plugging of wastages towards the improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the national HIV response. He further stated that the national guidelines will focus on “placing all people living with HIV on treatment”. According to him,  government has put the machinery in motion to engage pharmaceutical companies to support the local production of anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) and rapid test kits (RTK) towards ensuring an AIDS free generation in Nigeria by 2030. 

Dr Bilali Camara who spoke on behalf of the United Nations system in Nigeria acknowledged government’s political commitment towards the HIV/AIDS response by pledging 10 million dollars to the replenishment of the global funds in the 2017 budget is heart-warming. He however suggested that adolescent girls, young women and key populations be placed at the center of the response in order to achieve the 90-90-90 targets.

Other dignitaries at the event include the minsters for communication and that of women’s affair, WHO acting Country Representative, Heads of agencies and implementing partners.

The 2016 World AIDS Day commemorative activities started earlier in the week with a 3-day national HIV Conference, with the theme “Hands On for HIV prevention” that focused on   prevention among adolescent girls, young women and key populations. The findings of the external validation of the pre-exposure prophylaxis  demonstration study was also presented at the conference,

Other commemorative events included a road walk in Abuja and major cities as well as radio  discussions, television appearances and nationwide testing in the communities and health facilities.

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For more information, please contact:

•       Technical contacts:
Dr Rex Mpazanje; Tel: +234 803 638 9632; Email: %20%20%20%20%C2%A0mpazanjer [at] who.int (  mpazanjer[at]who[dot]int)
Dr Oluwafunke Ilesanmi; Tel: +234 903 722 8596; Email: %20%20%20%20ilesanmio [at] who.int (  ilesanmio[at]who[dot]int )

•    Media contact:
Ms  Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: %20%20%20%20warigonc [at] who.int ( warigonc[at]who[dot]int)
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01 From R-L, Barr Adebayo Shittu; Minister for Communication, Dr Osagie Enahire, Minister of State for Health,  Minister for Health, representative of the PLHIV, Dr Sani Aliyu; DG NACA and other dignitaries at the event

02 Dr Rex Mpazanje of WHO (1st left) at the launch of th national guidelines in Abuja

03 Testing volunteers on 2016 WAD in Abuja

04 WHO Nigeria country office partipants during the road walk