HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA

By

MR. S. A. ILEUMA
National Planning Commission

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with population of 140 million. It has diverse cultures with very high level of illiteracy compounded with some other inhibitions such as paucity of basic social needs including water, electricity and indeed several others. Against all these National Action Committee on AIDS, [NACA], took up five year after the first formal discovery of AIDS incident in the country in 1986.

SITUATION ANALYSIS
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS was discovered in 1986.
Since then the prevalence rate has been increasing in Nigeria. It increased from 1.6% to 5.8% in the period between 1991 to 2001. Until 2005 when the first downward was recorded at 4.4%. Estimated number of affected person in 2006 was 2.99 million with female constituting about 58%

NATIONAL HIV PREVALENCE TREND [1992 1995]

7 6 5 Percent 4 3 2 1 0
1992 1994 1996 1999 2001 2003 2005

5.8 5.4 4.5 3.8 1.8 5 4.4

[The prevalence rate of AIDS infection which stood at 5.8% in 2001, dropped to 5.0% in 2003 and to 4.4% in 2005.]

NATIONAL ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (NEEDS) 2003 - 2007 PROJECTED HIV

NEEDS had projected that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate would drop by 0.2% annually.

But the sentinel surveys in 2003 and 2005 show a decline of 0.3 per cent in the prevalence rate.

GOVERNMENT EFFORTS AT REDUCING HIV/AIDS IN THE COUNTRY

The Nigeria Government set-up NACA in 1996. By 2001 it had become clear that the complexity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic required a developmental, holistic, coordinated and multi-sectoral approach. The strong political commitment of the President of Nigeria to fight HIV/AIDS served as a powerful catalyst and motivator for establishing a supraministerial and sectoral body, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). A national policy on HIV/AIDS was launched in August 2002 to give policy direction and to make a policy statement on the transformation of NACA from a Committee to a full-fledged agency that is well positioned and poised to scale up the fight against the epidemic. In 2001, with the passage of NACA bill by the National Assembly, NACA is now self accounting.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIV CONTROL IN NIGERIA

NACA National Agency for the Control of AIDS

SACA

States Agency for the Control of AIDS

LACA

Local Agency for the Control of AIDS

NACA and SACA collaborate to chart the way forward

ROLES OF NACA

To contain the spread of HIV/AIDS through advocacy, information and education campaigns.

It also focuses on the treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. This is a top priority to Nigeria Government.

To break down barriers to HIV prevention and support community based responses.

The Role of NACA [Contd.]

There is also the HIV/AIDs workplace policy which is expected to be domesticated by every establishment (Public and Private)

Monitoring and evaluation to be a vital component of HIV/AIDS prevalence activities.

KEY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The major challenges confronting the country in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS include:

Capacity gaps for effective implementation and coordination in all sectors and at all levels. Inadequacy of strategic information that could permit interpretation of data.

A weak legal and regulatory environment and poor coordination especially among the national, state and local government NGO and private sector.
Stigmatization and discrimination against those effected with HIV and AIDS

Poor access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy [ARTs].

Funding has continues to be a constraint in the fight against HIV/AIDS

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VISION

The long term vision is not only to reduce the incidences of HIV/AIDS to the barest minimum but also to create an environment in which all Nigerians will be able to live socially and economically productive lives free of diseases and its effects.

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POLICY THRUST

The overall goal of the NEEDS HIV/AIDS policy is to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, provide equitable care and support for those infected with HIV/AIDS and mitigated its impact to the point where it is no longer of public health, social, or economic concern. The policy aims to create an environment in which all Nigerians will be able to live socially and economically productive lives free of the disease and its effects.

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GOVERNMENT POLICY UNDER THE NEEDS-2 PROGRAMME

Improve its stewardship over policy formulation on HIV/AIDS, related Legislations, regulations, resources, mobilization, coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
Reduce the disease burden attributable to HIV/AIDS and other opportunistic infections. Improve physical and financial access to good quality HIV/AIDS treatment, care and related health services. Ensure the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS issues into every sector since HIV/AIDS is more of a development issue than a health issue. Foster effective collaboration and partnership necessary for mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS.

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TARGET

In order to achieve the above policy thrust, the following target are set:

A reduction in HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence by a minimum of 25% by 2011. Provisions of preventions, care, treatment and support for all PLWHAS (100 per cent of people needing Anti-Retroviral Therapy [ART] by 2011. To have 95% of the general population make the appropriate behavioural changes (safe sex, abstainance etc) through social mobilization by 2011.

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Target [Contd.]

To increase by 50% access to comprehensive gender sensitive prevention, care, treatment and support services for the general population, PLWAS and OVC by 2011. To strengthen national capacity for monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS response such that the national monitoring and evaluation plan is 100% implemented by 2011. To build national capacity for research knowledge sharing, acquisition and utilization of new HIV/AID technologies. To improve the policy environment that support safer sex practice, reduces stigma, discrimination, promotes positive living and right of women and general population, particularly PLWAS.

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THEMATIC AREAS FOR HIV INTERVENTION

Effective building.

coordination,

resource

mobilization

and

capacity

Prevention of new infections and universal precaution. Psychosocial support and economic empowerment of OVC and PLWHAS. Expansion of equitable access to art and reduction of laboratory monitoring cost. Monitoring and evaluation Impact mitigation, care and support of OVC Enabling environment Research and new knowledge

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CONCLUSION

Nigeria appreciates the efforts of the International Organisation, Developed countries and NGOs at reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS globally. However, more assistance is still needed in the areas of advocacy capacity building and technical personnel.

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