Minister Calls For Team Work, Commitment To End HIV

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, on Tuesday, called for teamwork and commitment by stakeholders to end HIV epidemics.

She made the call while declaring open the 6th National Council on AIDS in Abuja, with the theme: “Innovative Approaches Toward HIV Epidemic Control and Programme Sustainability at State Level.”

She said women and girls were at the centre of HIV response with the rise in rape and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

According to her, cases of rape and other forms of GBV during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the health of women and girls.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, restated the determination of the ministry to continue to support the fight against HIV.

Ehanire, who was represented by Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu, expressed optimism that conversations around HIV at the 6th National Council would be fruitful.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, pledged the support of the legislature to end HIV.

Represented by Hafsat Abdulraheem, Senior Legislative Assistant, the chairman said that the legislature would make appropriate legislation to support the effort.

Dr. Murphy Akpu of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), reiterated the determination of the group to continue to partner with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in the National HIV Response.

According to him, as collaborators of Nigeria’s National HIV Response, PEPFAR is proud to be part of the conversation.

Dr. Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), acknowledged the efforts of development partners in the fight against HIV.

Aliyu commended the stakeholders and development partners for a united front against the scourge.