Stakeholders in the health sector have called on government at all levels as well as the private sector to harness innovative ways in curbing spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
The stakeholders who spoke at the just concluded free testing and counselling initiative held during the Access Bank Marathon held in Lagos noted that the applications of new solutions will help tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.
The programme which was organised by the Nigeria Business Coalition against AIDS (NIBUCAA) and HACEY Health Initiative tested over 2,500 athletes and participants of the sporting event as well as residents.
Gbenga Alabi, executive secretary, NiBUCCA, said the programme should serve as a case study for government and the private sector to end the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
Alabi also noted that the year marathon exercise seeks to promote HIV prevention for over 1million Nigerians through digital and social media platforms.
“We still have miles to go, as the latest UNAIDS report shows, and that includes reaching people living with HIV who do not know their status and ensuring that they are linked to quality care and prevention services,” he said.
He explained that significant progress has been made in the AIDS response since 1988, as three in four people living with HIV know their status.
Alabi urged government and members of the private sector to tie HIV/AIDS awareness into their programmes.
In the same vein, Isaiah Owolabi, project director, HACEY Health Initiative, noted that the growing epidemic of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria calls for more investments to curb the disease.
“The UNAIDS recommend that HIV prevention efforts must be reinvigorated if the world is to stay on the Fast-Track to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030,” Owolabi said.
“The UNAIDS prevention gap report shows that worldwide an estimated 1.9 million adults have become infected with HIV every year for at least the past five years and that the number of new HIV infections is rising in some regions,” he added.
Also, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, head of sustainability, Access Bank Plc, said “HIV testing is essential for expanding treatment and ensuring that all people living with HIV can lead healthy and productive lives.”
She noted that continuous testing is crucial to achieving the 90–90–90 targets and empowering people to make choices about HIV prevention to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Victor-Laniyan, however urged members of the society to desist all forms of stigmatisation against HIV and AIDS patients.
“Unfortunately, many barriers to HIV testing remain stigma and discrimination still deters people from taking an HIV test,” she said.
She urged other stakeholders to also provide access to confidential HIV testing to members of the society.
Similarly, Mary Adeoye, programme officer, HACEY Health Initiative, said the free testing programme was one of many ways the organisation contributes its quota in curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS.
She urged tested persons to ensure continuous testing and inform other persons.
“Spread the news and not the virus. HIV testing doesn’t kill, it is to know your status,” Adeoye said.
