President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that by 2016 no Nigerian child should be born positive with HIV/AIDS.
In response to the recent protest by the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS, he also stated that the Federal Government has “begun the release of funds for the implementation of the Presidents Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS.”
According to him, government was aware that international partners have withdrawn their funding support for some aspects of HIV/AIDS services in the country.
Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, expressed these feeling on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the national operational plan for the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS 2015-2016.
At the event, the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Prof. John Idoko said, “Nigeria has made slow progress in the a prevention if Mother To Child Transmission of HIV av/AIDS with 30 per cent coverage by 2013 due to a number of structural challenges including inadequate services at Primary Health Care level, poor attendance of pregnant women at antenatal services, and many women preferring to go to traditional birth attendants, Churches and Mosques to access antenatal and delivery services.”
Jonathan said, “No Nigerian child should be born with HIV. Together we shall end the AIDS epidemic among children. I therefore launch and present to you the eMTCT 2015-2016. The 2010 National Sentinel Survey for pregnant women attending antenatal care in Nigeria recorded a HIV prevalence of 4.1 per cent, while the population survey carried out in 2012 observed an HIV prevalence of 3.4 per cent. Nigeria records an estimated 6 million births annually and out of this number, a huge percentage of deliveries are outside health facility settings.
The government, he said, will continue to provide the needed level of commitment to ensure progress in combating HIV because his administration was committed to the implementation of the plan to eliminate Mother to Child Transmission of HIV by 2016.
While appealing to international partners to be patient with Nigeria as it strives to provide more resources to the many challenges confronting the nation, Jonathan informed that government has begun the release of fund for the implementation of PCRP.
The President also stated the efforts being put in place by his administration since 2011 to achieve 2016 eMTCT target.
He said, “In addition to these, the Federal Government through the Subsidy Re-investment Program and other programs has initiated Health Systems Strengthening projects that are critical to achieving the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in various communities. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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presido. U win the best comdian award of the year. things u have control over are failing and you are talking come 2016. you neva ask if you go dey there by May 30, 2015
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