AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an NGO, has urged world leaders to keep fighting AIDS to protect achievements made in combating the scourge which has raged the world for over 30 years.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Steve Aborisade, Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria, to commemorate the 2021 World AIDs Day.
WAD is observed annually to rally global leaders’ support to end inequalities that drive AIDS and a special focus on reaching people left behind.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme is: “End inequalities End AIDS”.
The event, seeks to refocus the world on the AIDS pandemic and people living with or affected by HIV globally, to serve as a reminder of the importance of access to HIV testing, prevention and treatment.
The statement quoted Dr Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director, that the 2021 WAD was particularly crucial for stakeholders to take stock and recommit to bridging the gaps left by COVID-19.
“It is interesting to note that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria was still able to make some significant gains of increasing the number of people on treatment.
“However, gaps are noticeable within pediatrics and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programming (PMTCT) with children getting infected by their mothers.
“This is one key area stakeholders in Nigeria must do more to reverse the trend and also end inequality as part of the drive to achieving epidemic control of HIV and AIDS.
“Furthermore, significant attention needs to be given to sustainable funding for HIV and AIDS,’’ Ijezie added.
Terri Ford, AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy, said that HIV and AIDS was still responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths worldwide each year.
”A recent report by the Global Fund showed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted health systems and service delivery in low and middle income countries.
“As a result, HIV service delivery has been disrupted in nearly two thirds of countries, HIV testing fell 41per cent from April to September 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.
“Despite many challenges, COVID-19 must not be used as a pretext to permanently scale back the global response to AIDS.
”World leaders must battle COVID-19, by committing to global vaccine access, also to keep the promise on AIDS by ensuring availability of HIV services.
Dr. Penninah Iutung, Africa Bureau Chief, AHF, said according to the most recent UNAIDS statistics, 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and in 2020, 1.5 million people became newly infected with HIV.
Lutung said that in spite of great progress made in fighting HIV and AIDS worldwide, COVID-19 was threatening to erase those precious gains by disrupting the world’s ability to continue responding to HIV, particularly in most vulnerable populations.
He noted that while millions of people were accessing lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, millions were still desperately in need.
The Bureau Chief, however, called on world leaders to act accordingly by ensuring those most in need, whether for HIV or COVID-19, get the resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
In commemoration of the day, AHF said the Foundation would host diverse commemorative live and virtual events in most of its 45 countries.
AHF Nigeria will host two youths themed events, media drive through radio programming as well as a testing drive for the youthful population across six states where the organisation is operational.
