Tag Archives: UNAIDS

UNFPA distributes 22,224 condoms in Calabar

Posted on by
1

The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has distributed 22,224 condoms during its “Wise Up Cross River” campaign at Calabar Christmas village.

Olamide Onifade, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, UNFPA, stated this via a statement he issued on Sunday in Calabar and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mr. Onifade said that since December 1 when the activities commenced at the village preparatory to the annual Calabar Carnival, 806 persons had been tested for and counselled on HIV/AIDS.

“Since the commencement of the ‘Wise Up Cross River’ campaign, 22,224 condoms, comprising 21,036 male and 1,188 female condoms have been distributed alongside 3,748 information, education and communication materials.’’

“Also, of the 1,235 people that have so far visited the “Wise Up Cross River” stand in the Christmas village, eight persons (six males and two females) have tested positive to the virus,” he said.

The unit head said those who tested positive had commenced treatment and been linked with relevant bodies, such as People Living with HIV/AIDs and other necessary groups for assistance.

He said that the information, education and communication materials would further enlighten the recipients on the disease.

According to him, the “Wise Up Cross River” campaign is an initiative of the UNFPA and the office of the Wife of the Governor, Cross River and other partners.

“The campaign is targeted at reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in the state, through the active involvement of the youth and the vulnerable.

“This is in line with the target of ending HIV/AIDS around the world by 2030, using the 90:90:90 strategy, developed by the UNAIDS,” he said.

UNAIDS ED Begins 3-day Official Visit To Nigeria

Posted on by
11

Mr Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director and Under Secretary General of UN, has arrived Nigeria for a three-day official visit to adopt new strategy that would end AIDS epidemic in Nigeria by 2030.

 

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Charles Martins-Jjuuko, Global Media and Outreach officer, UNAIDS, made available to News Agency of Nigeria has said.

 

 

It said Mr Sidibe’s visit was to enable top officials of Nigerian government to discuss how to fast track HIV/AIDS response that could end AIDS by 2030.

 

 

It said the UNAIDS boss would also discuss with President Muhammadu Buhari on the upcoming high level meeting on June 8 to 9, in New York USA.

 

“We want President Buhari to actively participate in the development of the 2016 Political Declaration on AIDS,’’ the statement said.

 

According to the statement, the UNAIDS executive director will interact with the Ministers of Budget and National Planning, Finance, Health, Women Affairs as well as Federal Capital Territory.

 

“He will also interact with civil society organisations and partners in Abuja, Lagos and Otta, Ogun states,’’ it added.

 

 

NAN reports that Sidibe will interact with stakeholders and discuss the urgent need to enhance AIDS response.

 

 

The discussions between the two leaders will rally around how Nigeria can fulfil its obligation in terms of putting more domestic resources to complement the external resources coming from foreign donors.

 

 

(NAN)

How To End AIDS By 2030- UNAIDS

Posted on by
1

Ahead of World AIDS Day 2015, the Joint United Agency for AIDS (UNAIDS), yesterday, released a new report showing that countries including Nigeria are getting on the fast track to end AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) even as over 15.8 million people are now accessing antiretroviral therapy, compared to 7.5 million people in 2010 and 2.2 million people in 2005.

According to the UNAIDS report, by adapting to a changing global environment and maximising innovations, countries are seeing greater efficiencies and better results.

It noted: “Progress in responding to HIV over the past 15 years has been extraordinary. By June 2015, UNAIDS estimates that 15.8 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, compared to 7.5 million people in 2010 and 2.2 million people in 2005.”

At the end of 2014, UNAIDS estimates that new HIV infections had fallen by 35 per cent since the peak in 2000 and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 42 per cent since the 2004 peak.

Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé said: “Every five years we have more than doubled the number of people on life-saving treatment. We need to do it just one more time to break the AIDS epidemic and keep it from rebounding.”

In Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), on Tuesday, kicked off events to commemorate World AIDS Day 2015 with a call on all Nigerians and the country’s partners to renew their commitment to ending AIDS by 2030.

UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria and UNAIDS Focal Point for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Bilali Camara said: “At the end of 2015, I can say with clarity that Nigeria is among the countries which have halted the spread and reversed the trend of the HIV epidemic. There is no doubt that, with the fast-tracking approach being promoted, Nigeria will end AIDS by 2030.”

Director General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko, at a press conference yesterday said: “Nigeria’s AIDS response has gained a steady momentum in the past four years. We have managed to turn the tide. New infections have reduced by 35 per cent and we now need new commitment and support in order to end AIDS by 2030.”

Credit: Guardian

UNAIDS Welcomes Nigeria’s New Commitment To Ending AIDS By 2030

Posted on by
2

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the commitment expressed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria towards efforts to end AIDS by 2030.

We welcome His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to action to end AIDS by 2030. We are looking forward to supporting government efforts at Federal and State levels to free Nigeria from the AIDS epidemic,” said the UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria and UNAIDS Focal Point for the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), Bilali Camara.

Addressing a side-event of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 25th September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari called for “working together to make Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) history by 2030.”

Although Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden of the AIDS epidemic, President Buhari said: “The good news is that the effort of the global community has resulted in greater control, less spread and better management.”

Read More: ngrguardiannews