Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, said plans are ongoing to begin domestic production of HIV commodities before the end of 2025.
Ilori made the disclosure yesterday in Ilorin while inaugurating the Kwara Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, PMTCT, and Paediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.
She said domestic production of HIV commodities such as test kits and anti-retroviral drugs is part of the measures that government is taking to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The NACA boss added that other measures include enrolling all individuals into the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, mobilising resources to states, strengthening advocacy efforts and supporting vaccines research and innovation.
Ilori said setting up the committee is aimed at achieving an AIDS-free generation and ensuring a sustainable HIV response.
”UNAIDS 2023 reports indicate that approximately, 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually.
”Despite progress, PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage remains below 33%, far from the 95% target.
”To address this, the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children was developed in 2021 with full financial support, yet coverage remains suboptimal,” she said.
She noted that although the state’s HIV prevalence of 0.8% was below the national average of 1.4%, disparities persist.
“Women are disproportionately affected (1.3%) compared to men (0.4%) and some local governments require targeted interventions to maintain and further reduce prevalence rates.
“Achieving an AIDS-free generation is within reach and no child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara State.
”I urge all partners to support us in developing a comprehensive line-list of children of HIV-positive clients which is crucial to accelerating paediatric ART nationwide,” she said.
