Nigeria has second largest number of HIV adolescents globally
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says Nigeria ranks the second highest country with adolescents living with HIV in the world with 10 percent, a total of 240,000 adolescents living with the HIV virus in Nigeria.
Director-general of NACA, Sani Aliyu, disclosed this at a Nigeria National HIV response led by NACA with support from UNICEF in partnership with Population Council tagged “All-IN working with adolescents and young people to achieve 90:90:90 in Nigeria,” on Wednesday in Abuja.
Reiterating NACA’s commitment increase the testing rate among young people by 2020, Aliyu said the burden with Nigeria was not preventing new infections, but enrolling and retaining young people in treatment fast enough, as the enthusiasm, idealism and fresh ideas of young people can introduce new solutions to the challenges.
“The Nigerian National HIV response led by NACA, with support from UNICEF in partnership with Population Council, has embarked on an adolescent participation initiative that will help to define a framework for engaging adolescents in the AIDS response specifically.
“The work stream on engaging adolescents recognises that adolescents and youths are critical in efforts to end the AIDS epidemic. By working together with them in AIDS response and across sectors can create a successful pathway to adulthood for young people.”
He urged the private sector to engage in and invest on Adolescents and Young Persons (AYPs), in HIV response, adding, “Investing on this segment of the population shall translate into a democratic dividend.”
Country director, United Nations Child Fund (UNICEF), Mohammed Fall, on his path said Nigeria is a country where the speed of infection of HIV virus is increasing among youths.
He noted that the young people in Nigeria could be mobilised for social change with their energy and enthusiasm for change out of the public health arena.
He said” the most important aspect of our lives are being driven by the private sector, and I will like to use this opportunity to reiterate that UNICEF stand ready to spend something in partnership and show support to Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world in the fight against HIV.”
Also speaking, Gbenga Alabi, the overall head of private sector entity, said the private sector was not making financial contribution but could give support.
There is a need to support policies and initiatives to ensure sustainable development. “Corporate social responsibility is an investment, because we are talking about social investment and there is a need to justify every kobo invested.
“We would use our resources and core competencies to support, because the youths are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said
President, Association of Positive Youths, Mohammed Isa, said so much is missed out when talking about HIV to
young people.
“There are so much that is missed out when talking about HIV to young people. They need encouragement, access to treatment, talk about their status and discuss openly about their sexual partners.”
The meeting brought together key stakeholders working on HIV response in Nigeria as well as members of the private sector.
The event culminated in the award ceremony of the winners of the Adolescents’ and Young People’s HIV Challenge in Nigeria.
The competition, organised by NACA, Population Council and UNICEF, was held to enable meaningful participation of adolescents and young people in the HIV response in Nigeria. The winning ideas represent components of concepts that have the potential to deliver solutions that improve lives around Nigeria. Three winners were be presented cheques of one million Naira each during the ceremony.