UNAIDS Laments Inadequacy of Funds Earmarked for HIV/AIDS
The United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) has said funds earmarked by the Nigerian Government for treatment of HIV/AIDS in the country are not enough to stop further spread of the virus.
UNAIDS Country Director to Nigeria, Dr. Bilali Camara, stated this at a workshop organised recently for journalists and representatives of people living with HIV/AIDS in Abuja, Nigeria, to sensitise them on the ambitious UNAIDS treatment target – the 90-90-90 – and share ideas on how best it can be attained by 2020.
Camara explained that the amount of monies allocated by the federal government to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and treat persons living with the virus could delay its goal to ensure a free HIV/AIDS generation.
Camara contended that to sufficiently fund Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, close to “$1.2 billon is required but only half of that money has been made available with the Nigerian government contributing only 25 per cent of the fund instead of 50 per cent.
“The target will ensure that, by the year 2020, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral load suppression.”
The country director in his presentation on the ambitious target observed that with the obvious “improvement in the life expectancy of persons living with the virus and on drugs, it is quite unethical for any government not to fund the response”.
Camara said the antiretroviral drugs, with evidence-based research, has proven that it can cut transmission by about 50 per cent, with the use of treatment for prevention.
He stated that, “it is unfortunate that governments are unwilling to fund the treatment despite the huge benefits to humanity. Can you imagine cutting the spread of the virus by half?”
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPHWAN), Edward Ogenyi said: “When people living with HIV understand the 90-90-90 target and drive the process, it will send the message down to the communities and ensure that more Nigerians will be tested for HIV and the ones who need treatment will access it.”
Ogenyi maintained that the new “target motivates those who are already on treatment to adhere to it so they can suppress the virus and continue to live a healthy and productive life.”