Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has stressed that HIV/AIDS continues to pose a major public health challenge in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, Osun State, following the inauguration of the state’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy Acceleration Committee, Dr Ilori highlighted the ongoing threat of the disease, particularly among children.
She pointed out that Osun State’s mother-to-child transmission rate of 0.9%, while below the national average, still reflects the broader issue of children being born with HIV/AIDS in the country.
According to her, in 2023 alone, 26,000 children were newly infected with HIV, while 15,000 children aged 0 to 14 died from AIDS-related illnesses.
“HIV-AIDS is still here with us. We are still having new infections. Just last year, we had 26,000 new infections among children aged 0-14 and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths among children 0-14.
“I believe the disease is still a public threat, and only when we work together with our state governors, our local government, and other agencies can we stop this narrative,” Dr. Ilori said.
Ilori emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to combat the situation, urging cooperation among state governments, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
She explained that the newly formed committee is tasked with closing the treatment gap for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, ensuring they receive continuous medical care and support.
The committee’s work will focus on improving PMTCT services and expanding access to HIV care for children. By addressing these gaps, the initiative aims to reduce new infections among children and improve the health and survival rates of HIV-exposed infants.
Dr Ilori described the committee as a step toward eradicating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. Similar committees are being launched across the country as part of a national strategy to ensure a unified and effective response to this pressing issue.
