We need N50bn to treat 1 million HIV patients-NACA

Nigeria will require N50 billion to place one million HIV patients on treatment without donor support.

Director-General, National Agency for Control of AIDs, Dr Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with Daily Trust in Abuja.

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According to him, it costs N50 000 to treat one HIV patient per year.

He said the government, along with other stakeholders, was working towards establishing a HIV Trust Fund.

He said, “Currently, with over a million patient on our treatment list, if today the donor funding that comes from US government through PEPFAR and Global Fund seize to flow,  Nigeria will have a minimum of one million to put on treatment for the domestic resources.

“This is enormous at the rate of N50, 000 per person per year. The way we treat HIV now using direct procurement will require N50billion  to treat one million HIV positive individuals in one year.