The United States government says Nigeria is a model to the rest of the world on how to reach HIV epidemic control, and also how to invest in people and communities and truly make a difference in the lives of millions of people.
The US Chargé d’Affaires David Greene stated this during the 3rd bi-annual US Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Nigeria’s performance review meeting and stakeholders engagement in Abuja.
The review meeting was organised in collaboration with APIN Public Health Initiatives, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and other partners.
He said the operation of key population-led One Stop Shops that provide a safe space for comprehensive care has empowered communities and saved lives, adding that the innovation hubs for adolescent and youth populations are building a generation of strong and talented leaders.
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He said, “The launch of new HIV Surges, the increased number of people in target populations tested and linked to treatment, intensified efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and the growth of the National Data Repository have all been game changers in our response work.”
The chargé d’affaires said the introduction and implementation of an integrated health service delivery platform is a novel idea with huge potential in Nigeria.
He said building connections across diseases, responses, and routine health activities like immunization can only serve to strengthen the healthcare and public health systems in Nigeria and ensure efficient use of available resources.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, called on stakeholders combating HIV in the country to strengthen their commitment towards closing identified gaps especially in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and Antiretroviral therapy coverage (ART) among the paediatric populations.
He said over the span of more than three decades, Nigeria’s relentless efforts have borne fruit, significantly advancing its position in the global response to HIV.
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