Nigeria is on track to begin domestic production of HIV commodities, including test kits and antiretroviral drugs, by the end of 2025.
This major step is part of the country’s broader goal to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, according to Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).
She made the announcement during the launch of the Kwara Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatrics ART Acceleration Committee in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“This is a crucial milestone in ensuring a sustainable and self-reliant response to HIV in Nigeria,” Ilori said. “Local production of HIV commodities will help secure the future of our fight against AIDS and reduce our dependence on external resources.”
The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to make strides in its battle against HIV, though challenges remain. UNAIDS 2023 reports show that 140,000 children aged 0-14 are still living with HIV in the country, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths each year.
Ilori acknowledged that while progress has been made, there is still much work to do to reach key targets, including the 95% coverage for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT).
“PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage remain critically low, well below the 95% target,” Ilori noted. “Our goal is to ensure no child is born HIV-positive in Nigeria, and that must be a collective effort across all levels of government and civil society.”
Women, she pointed out, are disproportionately affected by the epidemic, with a prevalence rate of 1.3% compared to 0.4% in men.
Ilori stressed the importance of targeted interventions, especially in areas with higher prevalence like Kwara State, which has an HIV rate of 0.8%, lower than the national average of 1.4%.
The Kwara PMTCT and Paediatrics ART Acceleration Committee, she explained, will play a crucial role in accelerating the country’s progress towards an AIDS-free generation, particularly by improving the access to paediatric ART nationwide.
Ilori also highlighted the need for greater sustainability in Nigeria’s HIV response, especially in the face of recent concerns about the 90-day suspension of foreign aid.
“While HIV services remain exempt from these cuts, this situation has underlined the importance of building a government-led response to HIV,” she said. “We must continue to reduce our reliance on donor funding to ensure the long-term success of these programs.”
With the launch of domestic HIV commodity production just around the corner, Ilori’s vision for a sustainable, AIDS-free future is becoming more tangible. “An AIDS-free generation is within reach, and we are committed to making that a reality,”she concluded.
