The federal government has decried the low prevention rate of mother to child transmission of HIV infection in the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa expressed the concern yesterday in Abuja while launching the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/Pediatrics AIDS Acceleration plan committee .
He said while the international prevention rate is 95%, Nigeria records only a 35% prevention rate.
He said, “Our current rates are unacceptable. We have 140,000 children living with HIV infection, almost 22,000 new infections recorded annually among children, and we also have 300 children dying every week from HIV. This translates to 15,000 deaths a year. We need to do better to care for our pregnant women and children.”
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He said the committee would work towards improving the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AlDS and increase the rate of pediatric anti-retroviral treatment.
The committee is expected to be replicated at the state level to provide oversight to the PMTCT scale-up plan in the states. The Director General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, said Nigeria faces a critical challenge in PMTCT services , and ensuring access to care for children living with HIV.
She said in 2021, national and state-level data analysis with consultations with states led to the development of Nigeria’s Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children Action Plan, adding that this was designed to scale up PMTCT efforts and paediatric HIV addressing the coverage gaps.
She said, “Despite this comprehensive strategy and accompanying financial commitment, our PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remain critically low. “
Country coordinator of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Funmi Adesanya said the US Government through PEPFAR has invested $8.3 billion over the last 21 years to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030 in Nigeria.
She said these resources have been invested in health systems strengthening, health products including ARVs and rapid test kits, human resources and surge staff,
“No child in Nigeria should be born with HIV and the U.S. Government is committed to our partnership to ensure that this is a reality. Now is the time and we believe we have the right leadership represented in this room to achieve this goal,” she added.
Dr. Leo Zekeng, UNAIDS Country Director, stressed the need for commitment to reduce mortality rates among women and children, assuring that ending AIDS by 2030 was possible.
Dr Olufolake Abdulrahman, wife of Kwara State governor and Chairperson of the Nigerian Governor’s Spouses Forum, called for comprehensive healthcare programmes and state insurance policies for mothers.
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