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NACA Director General & Key Stakeholders at the Abbott JNCI HIV Continuum of Care Summit.
Abuja, Nigeria – October 7, 2024
The Abbott JNCI HIV Continuum of Care Summit, themed “United to End HIV by 2030” was an event that gathered key stakeholders, including the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Director General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, Ambassador Dr. (Mrs.) Olufolake Abdulraraq (Kwara State First Lady), PEPFAR County Director, Dr. Funmi Adesanya, and other representatives from government agencies, healthcare organizations, and civil society.
The summit highlighted the significant progress made in reducing HIV transmission. The Director General of NACA emphasized the decline in the number of new infections. However, decried the huge population of children born with HIV and underscored the importance of accelerating efforts to eliminate new infections entirely.
Participants discussed the need for innovative strategies and tools to address the remaining challenges in the fight against HIV. Abbott was commended for its contributions to the field, including the development of advanced HIV testing technologies.
The summit also addressed the critical issue of stigma, which remains a significant barrier to HIV prevention and treatment. Speakers emphasized the importance of destigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDS and promoting the message of “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U).
To enhance access to HIV testing and early diagnosis, the summit called for increased availability of self-testing kits for pregnant women. Delayed diagnosis can lead to delayed treatment and increased risk of opportunistic infections. Self-testing has proven to be effective in identifying new cases and facilitating timely treatment.
A significant highlight of the summit was the unveiling of three innovative equipment for HIV and viral load testing. This development is expected to strengthen diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care.
The summit concluded with a renewed commitment from all participants to continue supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS and working towards a future free from the disease.
