The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) says Nigeria is leading in chatting the course towards ownership of HIV and AIDS response in the world.
The Director General, NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu made this known during the two days NACA/SACA coordinating meeting on National HIV Alignment Programme and Sustainability in Abuja, the nations capital.
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The National Alignment Program was built on a tripartite model aimed at improving the Global Fund-PEPFAR and Government of Nigeria collaboration; to ensure program alignment towards improving efficiency, scale-up HIV service coverage and increased greater impact of stakeholders committed to a restructured implementation of HIV programmes in Nigeria.
The NACA Director General explained further that the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is finalised and the Global Fund NFM4 Funding Request was submitted with grant making negotiation ongoing; “the Alignment 2.0 now crystalised into the New HIV Business Model nearing finalisation by stakeholders and then the National Sustainability Agenda”. He said.
“The above efforts are geared towards revitalizing the current HIV and AIDS response delivery architecture especially at the state levels which for now, is heavily reliant on non-state actors/Implementing Partners with limited ownership by state government actors”. He added.
Dr. Aliyu said with the changing funding landscape and eminent donor funds withdrawal, there is need to change the way they do business, he said the new government at the state levels will provides the opportunity to re-engage with political leaders and mobilise adequate domestic funds for the response.
“This, we must do, as the goal of ending HIV and AIDS-related deaths by 2030 would remain a dream unless the states take greater ownership of their responses. The current phenomenon of donor fatigue and global best practices of domestic sustainability further makes it imperative for the NACA to facilitate the development of the SACA capacities to lead and be seen to lead their respective state responses effectively and efficiently”. He said.
The Project Manager and Executive Secretary of Kwara State AIDS Control Agency (KWASACA), and the Secretary of Chief Executives of State Aids Control Agency’s( CESACAF), Dr. Alabi Seleem Babajide said the ownership of and sustainability of HIV response is key and remain the last mile of HIV.
“CESACAF has been at the at the fore of this and what this means is that the state agencies for the control of Aids need to take the drivers seats in coordinating the multisectoral response to HIV in their states just like NACA is coordinating at the National”. He said.
Dr. Babajide explained that the meeting is an opportunity to come up with ideas and modalities on how to derive this and fight HIV/AID to finish and to the last mile. “ we are all looking forward to a very engaging and a robust meeting”.
NACA stated that to ensure successful implementation of these plans, government must present a shared understanding, and defend a common agenda and NACA must provide leadership and galvanize other government stakeholders to define and agree on the roles and responsibilities of all entities at all levels.
“For inclusivity, this national engagement is critical to help SACAs understand their roles in coordinating all relevant stakeholders and to work collectively to deliver on the Alignment program, and the New HIV Business Model”. He said.
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