The Nigerian government is ramping up efforts to tackle longstanding challenges in its HIV response, including the criminalisation of key populations and limited health service funding.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate shared these developments during a media webinar with the Global Fund to commemorate 2024 World AIDS Day. Represented by director-general of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, Pate outlined a series of strategic initiatives aimed at improving care accessibility, resource mobilisation and service integration.
Addressing the criminalisation of key populations, Pate acknowledged its impact on healthcare access. He emphasised that despite the availability of supportive services like one-stop shops, youth-friendly services, and the Key Population Secretariat, criminal laws remain an obstacle. However, he reassured that the government is working closely with stakeholders to ensure these groups are not excluded from care.
To strengthen domestic funding, Pate highlighted the importance of engaging state and local governments, with the recent law granting autonomy to local governments poised to mobilize resources at the grassroots level. This, he believes, will ensure that funding for HIV response reaches communities in need.
Additionally, Pate disclosed that efforts are underway to integrate HIV services into the broader healthcare system, decentralising service delivery to enhance efficiency and accessibility. “We are moving away from vertical programs and embedding HIV services into mainstream healthcare while decentralising care to underserved areas,” he said.
Data quality and digitalisation are central to Nigeria’s HIV response strategy. The government has made significant strides in improving data collection and reporting, earning recognition from UNAIDS. “We are prioritising digital health initiatives, including electronic medical records and data systems, to strengthen accountability and decision-making,” Pate noted.
The government’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP), championed by Pate, promotes greater accountability and collaboration among stakeholders, with a unified reporting and accountability system. Despite funding challenges, he expressed optimism about Nigeria’s progress, citing engagement with the private sector, state governments, and local governments, alongside digital health innovations.
Leader of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Dr. John Nkengasong affirmed the programme’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing in Africa as part of its strategy to sustain the HIV response. Nkengasong outlined PEPFAR’s three-pronged approach: Market shaping, regulatory strengthening and partnership building, emphasising the importance of local manufacturing to ensure resilience, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy executive director of the policy, advocacy, and knowledge branch at UNAIDS, Ms. Christine Stegling stressed the need for predictability in donor funding and highlighted the role of multi-sectoral approaches in addressing health challenges. “We have only been successful because we took a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach,” she said.
Ilori also noted that World AIDS Day serves as a vital moment for reflection, acknowledging that Nigeria has made significant progress in reducing HIV prevalence from 3.4 per cent to 1.3 per cent-1.4 per cent. The day also serves to raise awareness, show support for people living with HIV, and remember those lost to AIDS-related illnesses.
