HIV/AIDS: Group optimistic of achieving epidemic control in future

Mr Ikenna Nwakanma, the Programme Officer of the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), has expressed optimism about achieving epidemic control in the future.

Nwakanma said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday. He said that achieving a 95 – 95 – 95 global HIV target was key to attaining global epidemic control in the near future. He explained that the 95 – 95 – 95 global HIV target is a set of ambitious goals released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) in December 2020.

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The UNAIDS target emphasised the need to have 95 percent of all people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of people with diagnosed HIV infection to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of people receiving antiretroviral therapy to have viral suppression by 2025.

The NINERELA+ officer, therefore, said “As we progress toward achieving the 95, 95, 95 global HIV target, we will, in the near future, be close to having 95 percent of all persons living with HIV identified and enrolled in treatment.

“That means, all things being equal, we will be achieving epidemic control in the near future.” Nwakanma, who reiterated the imperatives of achieving epidemic control, expressed worry over the factors that could reverse the gains made in the fight against HIV. According to him, some of the factors are stigma, faith interference in treatment and mental health issues associated with the trauma from the burden of being HIV positive.

He said that faith leaders have key roles to play in mitigating those barriers to maintaining HIV epidemic control.

NAN/S.S