Public Health: Buhari launches N62.1billion Trust Fund to sustain HIV response

*The Federal Government has launched a N62.1billion fund to improve efforts at sustaining HIV response, addressing killer diseases and public health emergencies in Nigeria

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a move to improve efforts at sustaining HIV response, addressing killer diseases and public health emergencies in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a N62.1billion fund to improve efforts at enhancing the country’s HIV response, addressing killer diseases and public health emergencies in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports President Buhari activated the health-related trust fund at an event Tuesday, February 1, 2022, in the State House, Abuja, FCT.

The President, however, noted he is optimistic that the private sector-led initiative would  surpass the N62billion target in the next five years.

According to him, this effort is aimed at providing requisite treatment for HIV-positive mothers while contributing to closing the funding gap for HIV in Nigeria.

The private sector-led funding for the HIV Trust fund of Nigeria is expected to crystalise a sustainable financial mechanism for the mobilisation and deployment of domestic private sector resources, particularly aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the country.

Ms. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said a total of 1.7 million Nigerians are living with HIV, while 1.6 million of that figure are on treatment.

Byanyima disclosed there is an urgent need to scale up domestic funding as Nigeria leads with the highest number of HIV infections among children.

Although the COVID-19 has pushed back intervention on the pandemic, ending AIDS is not just a moral but an economic imperative, said Executive Director of Joint UNAIDS.