The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has stated that the once dreaded HIV/AIDS is no longer a disease of shame and death as it was hitherto regarded a few years ago.

She advocated a more open conversation on the diseases particularly between parents, children, friends, colleagues and social partners.

The First Lady stated this in Abuja, on Monday, at an event to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day, with the theme, “overcoming disruption: sustaining Nigeria’s HIV response”.

“HIV/AIDS should be brought to the table for discussion on prevention and where to get necessary help and assistance. Our young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their health, get tested for HIV to know your status.

“To our communities, let us foster the culture of love, acceptance and support for people living with HIV. Let us continue to show empathy and kindness to those affected, and renew our pledge to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.”

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, in his speech, disclosed that stakeholders in the health sector have endorsed the decision to reduce the consent age for HIV counselling to 14 to allow more access to HIV knowledge and treatment.

“Similarly, we are moving steadily towards full integration of HIV, Malaria, TB, Nutrition and other programme as one service that one can get at a particular location at any point in time. We want to ensure that adolescents can access multiple essential services during a single visit to any health care facility.”

The Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, in her remarks, disclosed that Nigeria is on the right track as regards the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

She said: “Nigeria has continued to record important achievements in its HIV response. We have maintained an impressive 87–98–95 performance toward the global 95–95–95 targets, demonstrating significant progress in diagnosis, treatment coverage, and viral suppression across the country.

“Currently, 87 per cent of people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status; 98 per cent of those who know their status are on life-saving treatment; 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression meaning they cannot transmit HIV.

“In the last decade, Nigeria has recorded a 46 per cent decline in new HIV infections, and more Nigerians living with HIV are enrolled and retained in care than ever before. Our achievements extend to protecting mothers and children.

“In 2024, 5,189,353 pregnant women were tested for HIV, with 26,566 testing positive and immediately placed on antiretroviral treatment. Additionally, 23,561 HIV-exposed babies received Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) within 2 months of birth. While we celebrate these gains, we acknowledge that challenges remain.

“Our HIV Testing Services (HTS) coverage among pregnant women stands at 65 per cent, national PMTCT coverage at 63 per cent, and Early Infant Diagnosis coverage at 56 per cent. We are working tirelessly to close these gaps.

“Importantly, 100 per cent of pregnant women tested for syphilis in the last year received treatment, and 13 per cent of pregnant women were tested for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), demonstrating our commitment to comprehensive maternal health,” she said.

The NACA Director General further stated the fight against HIV has also been marked by remarkable scientific innovation. “We have witnessed the evolution of HIV treatment from the early days when multiple pills were required daily, to single-pill regimens, to long-acting injectables, and now to the latest breakthrough: a twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV,” she noted.

The National Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, in his remarks, appreciated the quick intervention of the President to the decision of the US Government to cut funding for HIV response in Nigeria.

He, however, appealed to the First Lady to further intervene in mobilising funding for HIV response in Nigeria particularly as regards mother-to-child transmission. (The Sun)