In Commemoration of World AIDS Day, US Donates $400m, Urges Nigerian Government To Invest In Health
In the spirit of the celebration of the World Aids Day, the United States on November 30 advised the Nigerian government to get committed to providing quality healthcare services to its people.
The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, said this while addressing Newsmen and Stakeholders at the embassy. He said it was necessary for the federal government to own up and invest in its health sector as no one could do it better. Symington added that, it is one way to stop millions of people from being infected with the HIV/Aids.
However, the coordinator of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ms. Shirley Dady disclosed that the United States has booked a budget of $400 million to support the HIV/Aids intervention programme.
“We are expecting our funding in Nigeria to be constant, this year we have a budget of $400 million and we are looking at ways where we can be more efficient with the resources so that we can increase the number of people we place on treatment every year,” she said.
Urging the Nigerian government to contribute and increase funds to eliminate the disease, she explained that the US is willing to work with the Nigerian government and stakeholders to achieve the 90-90-90 targets.
Her words: “We are looking to diagnose 90 percent of people on the HIV, place 90 percent of the HIV positive people on treatment, and reduce the viral load by 90 percent to reduce transmission in the Nigeria.”
90–90–90 is an ambitious treatment target aimed to help the AIDS epidemic. The aim is for by the year, 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
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7 Comments
Mandy
December 02, 07:36So we should expect this foreign aid to still exist after Donald Trump assumes his presidency? Becos that man has no love for Africa.
pete
December 02, 08:11Do you have proof of his dislike for Africa?
ambivalentone
December 02, 07:48I do not doubt that these aims are achieveable, but the inherent corruption that characterizes Nigerians when left with monies for humanitarian aid tho.
pete
December 02, 08:12My fears exactly. We can steal monies meant for any project.
Absalom
December 02, 10:27The way the story began, I was afraid the US was dropping subtle hints that they might soon withdraw funding.
But it doesn’t seem to have come to that.
Yet.
Khaleesi
December 02, 10:47I don’t think the US will withdraw funding for HIV programs anytime soon, the results would be disastrous + in a highly connected world, there is a greater chance that the negative effects would reach even their own doorsteps.
Delle
December 02, 11:28If Nigerians and its government doesn’t want to embrace us, gay people, I fear for the proper investment of such loan.