With a 2.9% HIV prevalence rate recorded in Taraba State, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, has called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders, health workers, the public, and the state government.
Expressing concerns over the rate, Ilori, on Tuesday, while launching the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric HIV Acceleration Committee (PPAC), called for urgent action, targeting the 2030 deadline.
“We must work together to reduce this prevalence rate to zero,” she said. “The fight against HIV requires consistent, collective action.”
The director dispelled claims surrounding the shortage of antiretroviral drugs due to the withdrawal of USAID support, revealing that the medication is free and accessible nationwide.
While hailing the state government’s commitment to the health sector, she expressed satisfaction with the administration’s prioritization of healthcare, followed by education.
Describing the inauguration as a historic moment, the Director General of the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Dr. Bako Ali Istifanus, emphasized the need to protect women and children, who are majorly affected by HIV/AIDS.
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“This committee marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and ensure that no child is born with the virus in Taraba,” he said.
Despite the progress, Istifanus underscored challenges, especially in PMTCT and paediatric HIV services, describing PPAC as a strategic initiative to improve healthcare delivery within the state.
While commending the health agency for their efforts towards curtailing the spread, Istifanus reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the established committee, vowing support.
He reaffirmed Taraba State’s full commitment to the committee’s success, promising to support and protect mothers from dying from AIDS-related causes and to ensure children are born HIV-negative.
