National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has said that the federal government has left the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the hands of foreign donors.
NACA’s Director of Policy and Strategy, Alex Ogundipe said this while addressing newsmen at a rally commemorating 2015 World AIDS day in Abuja.
He said “Nigeria has left HIV treatment and interventions in the hand of donors. It is not right and that is why we are unable to provide the response to everybody that should be on treatment right now.
“Local governments should see people that are positive as those who can still contribute to development of this country and provide them the best health care services.”
He added that “We are seeking a focus that by 2030, HIV in Nigeria should have reduced to the level where is of no national significance and people see it as any other disease.
“There was a time that once you have HIV, there was a death sentence on you and people where committing suicide and locking themselves in but is no longer the case today. It means there is hope.”
“Out of three million persons with HIV in Nigeria, over 800, 000 of them are treatment- it is not a cure but will prolong their life.”