By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria has canvassed the allocation of one percent of the consolidated revenue of the federal government to tackle HIV/AIDS and other public health diseases.
Chairman of the committee, Amobi Ogah stated this while briefing his colleagues at the end of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, and House Committee retreat held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, yesterday.
The chairman informed that the decision followed a careful analysis of NACA’s capacity, performance and experience, and for the sustenance of the fight against all public health diseases and reduce over dependence on foreign Aid.
The committee also blamed the slow success story on lack of coordination of efforts and responses to public health, even as he emphasized the need to amend the NACA Establishment Act of 2007 to restructure it into a multi sector agency of the federal government.
He reiterated his committee’s commitment towards reviewing the Anti-discrimination Act of 2014 to ensure relevance and further the dialogue on stigmatisation of patients who suffer from these diseases.
While calling for more interface and engagement with NACA to ensure improved synergy and continuous information sharing on multi-sectoral coordination, management of HIV and other related diseases, he stressed the need for more capacity building mechanism and attendance at HIV/AIDS conferences for enhanced knowledge of global best practices and innovations.
