Juliana Taiwo
2 December 2008
Abuja — Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on all tiers of government and the entire citizenry not to relent in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
He described it as one fight the nation cannot afford to lose given the consequent health and economic challenges which it poses.
This is coming on a day the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders, said the United States, as friend and partner of the people and government of Nigeria, is working to fight for care, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
As Nigeria's largest donor in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the US Government, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) hadprovided, since 2004, more than $1 billion to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria with another $447 million expected for 2009.
While flagging off the HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) Week to mark the World Aids Day at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Jonathan said that the situation of HIV/AIDS in the country at the moment is more complex and serious than many realise, especially at the state level.
He called for accelerated action particularly from state and local governments towards the goal of remarkable prevention as well as comprehensive treatment, care and support for infected persons by 2010.
According to him, "The strategic objective of our administration is to prevent new infections and provide total care and support for those already infected. This requires that all tiers of government must be on the same page with respect to creating awareness and acknowledging the seriousness of the scourge".
The Vice President also acknowledged the efforts of NGOs and faith-based groups in fighting the scourge and encouraged them not to relent as government alone cannot tackle the scourge.
Earlier, Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Lawal, said the HIV Counseling and Testing Week was being integrated into the World Aids Day activities to mobilise and enlighten members of the public to take the HIV test, know their status and avoid high risk attitudes as preventive measures against the pandemic.
In her remarks, the US envoy said that "Just five years ago, only 50,000 people in all of sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV/AIDS were receiving treatment. As of the end of September, 2008, in Nigeria alone, the Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the U.S. Government through the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, is supporting nearly 211,000 men, women, and children with treatment".
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