The Southwest geopolitical zone has become the fifth region in the Nigeria to join the Free To Shine Tripple Elimination campaign train.
This follows the flag off of the campaign by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in Akure, the Ondo capital.
Emphasizing the need to deepen engagement with all stakeholders , the First Lady highlighted the imperative of rolling back the culture of stigmatization against sufferers and survivors of the disease
“I want to commend the members of the Association of people living with HIV/AIDS for their testimonies. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of resilience and hope, inspiring others living with HIV/AIDS to seek the support and treatment they deserve with courage and confidence”.
“I thank all our health workers, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National Aids and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), as well as research and public health institutions for their efforts in combatting HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis through the years, as well as global partners helping us in this fight. I specially recognise WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, PEPFAR and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF) amongst others”.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that the campaign which aims to ensure that the global Triple Elimination target of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis is achieved by 2030 must be championed basically by the youth themselves who are the most affected by new infections.
“To our dear children and youth, this campaign cannot succeed without your involvement. You represent our future generation; however, your age group is one of the most vulnerable. Please take care and protect yourselves. We have increased our advocacy in the media across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and we hope it resonates”.
“We must deepen engagement with traditional and faith-based institutions to address cultural and religious influences on HIV prevention behaviors, especially those engaging in birthing services, by expanding access to HIV testing services with comprehensive counselling, treatment and care for all individuals who test positive”.
In his remarks at the Launch, the Ondo State Governor Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa assured that the State will review its budget to tackle the realities of healthcare funding as it affects the 3 disease as the world grapple with the Donald Trump administrations cut to funding in that area.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako on his part assured that the request for free or heavily subsidized liver and kidney function tests and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS is already getting the Federal Governments attention especially as it is the process of getting the data of those not captured under Health Insurance.
Highlight of the Launch was Oluwatomilayo’s ewi piece on positive lifestyle as a requirement for healthy youth and this set the stage for Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu to flag off the Free To Shine Tripple elimination campaign in the zone.
Focused on prevention, the launch of the campaign aims to further scale down prevalence among target groups, particularly women of reproductive age and young children.
With the successful launch of the campaign in the SouthWest, the South East is the only zone waiting to be activated.
