The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has urged World leaders not to relax in the efforts at curbing the scourge of HIV-AIDS.
He said it was unfortunate that many innocent children were starting lives with the virus and regret that their diagnosis and treatment remains a major challenge.
Onaiyekan was speaking yesterday in Abuja at a Regional Consultation on “Early Diagnosis and Treatment for HIV-positive Children: Strengthening Engagement of Faith Based Organizations” organized by Caritas Nigeria, UNAIDS and PEPFAR (US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).
“Leaders should not relax, because HIV-AIDS has not gone, the thing is still killing people, children and adults. Although it is no longer as fearful as it was 15 years ago, although we have now possibility of treatment by antiretroviral, still we should not relax; we should still insist on the prevention,” he said.
He said it was important for the Federal Government and those at the helms of affairs in the country to ensured unhindered access to public fund for faith based organizations to save more lives and curtail the scourge.
