President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday directed the development of an implementation plan to spelt-out the commitment of federal and states governments in putting an end to HIV and AIDS scourge.
Jonathan gave the directive at a meeting he held with stakeholders to review the President’s Emergency Response Plan for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, 2013-2015.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, reviewed a blueprint drafted by stakeholders on the control of HIV and AIDS.
Jonathan promised to work relentlessly to ensure that no Nigerian die of HIV and AIDS and solicited the supports of state governments and private bodies.
“From today as the President of this country, I don’t want any Nigerian to henceforth die of HIV.
“The objective may not be achieved today or tomorrow, but we shall be working towards achieving it from today.
“State governors too must ensure that nobody dies of HIV and AIDS in their states,’’ he said.
The president decried a situation where so much funds were being committed to the fight against the scourge, but the results were minimal.
Jonathan said his government would not continue to spend money on the scourge without assessing the corresponding progress being made.
“It appears as a nation, we are spending a lot on HIV, the federal and state governments and development partners, but there is no proper collaboration.
“We spend more money than the result we are getting.
“That was why I charged the DG, NACA to go with his team and come with a blueprint.
“State governments should know what they are expecting from the Federal Government and developmental partners.
“They must also be able to set target that in so and so years, the prevalence will be reducing,’’ he said.
Prof. John Idoko, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), had earlier disclosed that with 3.4 million people living with HIV, the country carries the second largest HIV burden globally.
Idoko said that apart from “this frightening situation’’, Nigeria was also behind target in several important indicators.
He said that only one out of three people living with the virus, who need treatments, are treated.
Idoko said that about N377.5 billion would be needed for the new initiative to get Nigeria to attain universal access targets of 80 per cent to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care services.
The NACA chief said that N198.5 billion was expected to be sourced from external donors, while domestic contribution would account for N179 billion.
Of the N179 billion to be sourced locally, he said the Federal Government would provide N110.2 billion; state governments, N52.3 billion; while the private sector would contribute N16.5 billion.
He said the plan, which has a two-year duration from July 2013 to June 2015, had identified specific delivery targets.
Idoko added that more attention would be given to 12 states and Abuja which currently have high prevalence rate.
The event was attended by Gov. Jonah Jang (Plateau), Peter Obi (Anambra), Lyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Martin Elechi (Eboyin) and Idris Wada (Kogi).
Oyo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Enugu, Nasarawa and Rivers among others, were represented by their deputy governors.
