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Tunji Alausa Outlines FG’s Game Plan To Break The Chain Of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission In Nigeria

Published

5 months ago

Jul 12, 2024.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health announces a comprehensive plan to address the country’s high mother-to-child HIV transmission rate, aiming for an AIDS-free generation.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has outlined the Federal Government’s plan to address the country’s high rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission, which constitutes 25% of the global burden.

The minister spoke on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the Prevention Of Mother-to-child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric Aids Acceleration Plan Committee Launch.

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Dr. Alausa presented data revealing the low PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) and pediatric HIV coverage in Nigeria, which remains at about 35%, far below the 95% target.

He highlighted the urgent need for enhanced PMTCT and pediatric HIV strategies to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission and improve care for HIV-positive children.

“Our intention to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV is crucial to ensure an AIDS-free generation,” Dr. Alausa stated.

He therefore outlined a comprehensive approach by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which includes early testing, optimized treatment, addressing social barriers, and fostering collaborations with local and international partners.

“An AIDS-free generation is possible, and together, we will achieve it,” the health minister added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alausa praised the support from various partners and stakeholders, acknowledging their vital role in mobilizing resources and advocating for improved HIV response.

Tunji Alausa Mother-to-Child HIV

Read the minister’s full speech below:

I bring you greetings from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Coordinating Minister for Health, Professor Mohamed Ali-Pate.

2. As you are aware, Nigeria contributes 25% of the global burden of HIV transmission between mothers and their children. Despite testing approximately 4 million pregnant women in 2023, our PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) and pediatric HIV coverage remains at about 35%, falling significantly short of the 95% target.

3. In 2021, Nigeria’s Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children Action Plan was developed to scale up pediatric HIV care and eliminate vertical transmission of HIV between mothers and their children. However, three years later, we have yet to see significant progress, as service coverage has remained below 35% year after year.

4. A popular maxim states that doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is futile. That is why the Ministry of Health is focused on a health sector renewal initiative. This initiative is centered on four main pillars: effective governance, an efficient, equitable, and quality health system, unlocking value chains, and health security. Achieving these goals is impossible if our children remain vulnerable to HIV.

Tunji Alausa Mother-to-Child HIV

5. Through the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), we will provide effective governance for this program. Working with all our partners and other departments within the ministry, we will facilitate efficient, equitable, and quality healthcare for our children.

6. This will ensure that no child is born HIV positive and that those who are positive receive quality care. We will also unlock value chains by collaborating with those willing to commence domestic production of HIV commodities, ensuring health security for our children.

7. Nigeria is also committed to the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration for Action to end AIDS in Children (February 2023) and will host a

ministerial summit in the fourth quarter of 2024 for health ministers from other African countries to review our progress in ending AIDS among our children.

8. While acknowledging the support from all partners in mobilizing resources and programming for our children, I have decided to provide personal leadership to this program component. I will work closely with the committee to review implementation and track data regularly, ensuring that we reverse the negative narrative of our contribution to the global burden of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

9. Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and ensuring care for all persons living with HIV, especially our children, aligns with the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President. As a country, this is a moral duty we owe to this generation.

Tunji Alausa Mother-to-Child HIV

10. In line with global best practices, I will inaugurate this multi- sectoral committee, comprising technocrats and bureaucrats, to ensure we deliver on this mandate, tracking implementation along the four pillars of our plan:

i. Early testing and optimized comprehensive, high-quality treatment and care for infants, children, and adolescents living with HIV and children exposed to HIV.

ii. Closing the treatment gap for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV and optimizing continuity of treatment towards eliminating vertical transmission.

iii. Preventing and detecting new HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding adolescents and women.

iv. Addressing social and structural barriers that hinder access to services.

11. While primarily addressing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and pediatric HIV, this initiative will also improve our antenatal coverage, health outcomes for women of childbearing age, and under-5 mortality rates.

12. We will collaborate with executive governors, their spouses, state ministries of health, state agencies for the control of AIDS, lead implementing partners in the states, and all other stakeholders to achieve this goal at the sub-national level. We will also create state committees to track their state responses and provide feedback to us at the national level.

Tunji Alausa Mother-to-Child HIV

13. Joining the DG of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, I firmly state that an AIDS-free generation is possible, and together, we will achieve it.

14. I want to thank you on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria for being here and for your unwavering support for the HIV response for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.

15. God bless you and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.