NACA Hosts National Summit on HIV/AIDS Strategy in Lagos
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has convened a high-level national summit in Lagos, gathering over 400 delegates from across Nigeria to address the urgent need for a self-reliant HIV/AIDS control strategy in the face of dwindling international donor funding.
The two-day meeting brings together federal and state government officials, health experts, and development partners to design a sustainable framework for combating HIV/AIDS without heavy reliance on foreign assistance.
Theme: Reducing Dependency on Foreign Aid
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Usman Bashir, NACA’s Kano State Coordinator, explained that this year’s gathering is focused on “finding ways to rely on ourselves in tackling HIV/AIDS after major donor countries have withdrawn support.”
According to him, Kano State currently has about 33,000 people receiving HIV treatment, although the actual number of people living with the virus could be between 60,000 and 70,000.
Current HIV Treatment Landscape in Kano
Dr. Bashir noted that HIV treatment is available in three lines of therapy:
First-line and second-line drugs — traditionally supplied by international partners.
Third-line treatment — more expensive and less common, procured by the Kano State Government.
He also emphasized that providing HIV-positive pregnant women with medication greatly reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
Stakeholders Raise Concerns Over Sustainability
Despite NACA’s push for a self-reliant approach, some stakeholders fear the move could jeopardize treatment access.
Bashir Ismail, head of the Save Lives Sustainable and Counselling Initiative (SLSCI), expressed skepticism about the government’s capacity to fully sustain HIV care without donor support.
“We are not confident that the government can handle the needs of people living with HIV one hundred percent. The situation is growing daily,” Ismail said.
He also disputed NACA’s figures, stating that by December 2024, over 44,000 people were already on treatment in Kano, far higher than the 33,000 reported.
Call for Transparency in Drug Distribution
Ismail urged the government to closely monitor the distribution of HIV medications, alleging that favouritism sometimes affects drug allocation. Such practices, he warned, could undermine the fight against the disease and put more lives at risk.
The Road Ahead
With donor funding shrinking and the HIV epidemic still a pressing challenge, NACA’s summit seeks to build a locally sustainable HIV control system. However, achieving this will require increased domestic funding, transparent resource management, and community-driven solutions to ensure that millions of Nigerians living with HIV continue to receive life-saving treatment.
