President Muhammadu Buhari has called for a renewed global action to decisively address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa and eliminate the disease by 2030.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said the President made the call at a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on HIV\AIDS on Tuesday.
He said the meeting was meant to review the progress on commitment to end the deadly disease by 2030 and give recommendations to guide and monitor response in countries.
The President addressed the meeting in a video message.
He pledged Nigeria’s full commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other international and regional initiatives toward eliminating HIV/AIDS in the world within the set goal.
“We will continue to work with fellow Heads of State and Government across the continent to ensure sustained high-level political engagement in achieving these goals.
“I want to reiterate Nigerian Government’s full support for a clear and ambitious Common African Position and New Political Declaration that can help to reduce the public health threat of HIV/AIDS, strengthen resilience to end the disease and address current and future health emergencies.
“We further commit to urgently translating all new and agreed Political Declarations into country action as a means of decisively addressing the HIV epidemic in the African region,’’ he said.
According to him, the result of this survey has enabled Nigeria to set realistic targets and identify those that are not being reached with the necessary services.
“This has further enabled Nigeria through the support of the United States Government, Global Fund, Civil Society and other partners, to enroll almost 1.5 million Nigerians on life-saving HIV treatment.
“We have recorded tremendous growth in our treatment programme, especially over the past two years,’’ he added.
