The Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Humphrey Geiseb, says his country is willing to learn the Nigerian HIV/AIDS elimination example.
He was speaking during a courtesy call on the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA in Abuja.
He said that Nigeria, through NACA, is doing very well in the area of HIV management.
“I am just bringing, as a friend, a message of hope and a word of encouragement that you will continue to do the good work that all of us and the rest of Africa will be proud of what Nigeria is doing in the specific field of containing and eliminating HIV/AIDS” Mr Humphrey Geiseb said.
He said that Namibia is encouraged by Nigeria’s achievements.
“I’m just here to pay my respect and also to encourage you to continue with the hard work you are doing. We in Namibia are encouraged by your achievements and definitely, many people, many Africans in this great continent look at Nigeria as the window of Africa to the world. What happens in Nigeria matters to the continent. What achievements Nigeria is registering in the area of HIV/AIDS will be an encouragement to the rest of the men and women in this continent who are working on eradicating HIV/AID. So, continue the good work and we will tell the story of the work that Nigeria is doing. We Africans are not good at telling the story of what our agencies are doing. My coming here is to rally you to tell the good story of what you are doing and to call on you to continue until finally, we can say HIV is eradicated in this continent” the High Commissioner said.
He said that his visit is to acquaint him with the knowledge of what Nigeria is doing, what works and what shouldn’t be tried.
He also said that Namibia is a small country that has made a lot of progress in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.
The High Commissioner noted that NACA has been growing from strength to strength and worthy of emulation.
He added that both countries can partner with relevant agencies to address common challenges of HIV and assist citizens living with the disease.
Building blocks to end AIDs
While welcoming the High Commissioner, the Director General of NACA, Dr Gumel Aliyu, said that the building block to ending AIDs is in the prevention of Mother to child transmission of HIV.
“Namibia has achieved 100% of Mother to child transmission of HIV. This is the beginning, building block to ending AIDS. The best way to end AIDs is to make sure that the incoming generation doesn’t have AIDS. There is no way you will end AIDS if you leave the incoming generation to have AIDS. This area is very important and its an area we are looking forward to see how much we can learn from the Namibian successes” Dr. Aliyu said.
He also said that Nigeria is working towards elimination of HIV by the year 2022 as it has achieved a critical milestone of getting it under control.
He commended the High commissioner for reinvigorating Nigeria and Namibian friendship.
Emmanuel Ukoh
