FG restates commitment to improving health of Nigerians
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to improving the health of Nigerians.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, on Thursday, made the government’s position known at the 6th National Council on AIDS with the theme, “Innovative Approaches Towards HIV Epidemic Control and Programme Sustainability at State Level,” in Abuja.
“The Federal Government is committed to improving the health of Nigerians and will continue to confront and address challenges affecting HIV services that constitute a key barrier to accessing HIV treatment.”
Represented by Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, OSGF, Mustapha affirmed Federal Government’s renewed commitment to ending HIV, saying it was reinforced by placing additional 50,000 persons on treatment annually.
“The government would continue to finance the treatment of the additional 50,000 persons, noting that governments at sub-national levels were variously evolving innovative approaches to sustainable health financing, including health insurance.”
He explained that government would continue to encourage HIV/AIDS services to demonstrate ownership and assurance of sustainable HIV response.
He recalled that the Federal Government, through the National Agency for the Control of AIDS in collaboration with the organised private sector recently launched a N62-billion private sector-driven HIV/AIDS Trust Fund.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the world had recorded great improvements in HIV prevention, treatment and care over the last two decades due to strengthened global and regional response to the scourge.
Ehanire, who was represented by Dr. Alex Okoh, said such development led to a reduction in the number of new infections across the world.
He, however, expressed concern over the rate of new infections among young people and babies born to HIV-positive women, especially in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The minister said that the goal that no child in Nigeria should be born HIV positive and zero new infections informed the theme for this year’s National Council on AIDS.
He commended stakeholders and partners for their collaboration toward controlling the spread of the virus, especially the U.S.
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