HIV: US envoy seeks increased treatment in Osun

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HIV: US envoy seeks increased treatment in Osun

The United States Consul General in Lagos, Will Stevens, has called for improvement in the availability of healthcare services to individuals vulnerable to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Osun State.

Speaking with the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, before the launching of the HIV Treatment Surge initiative, Stevens stressed the need to ensure equitable access to healthcare. The programme was launched by the state government through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A statement by the Senior Public Affairs Specialist for the US Embassy, Aishah Gambari, on Friday quoted Stevens as saying, “We must ensure we reach the most vulnerable populations, like women, adolescents, and children, with testing and treatment. We must also ensure equitable access to care for key and hard-reach populations.”

Speaking at the launch, the CDC Country Director, Mary Boyd, said there was the need for more commitment from the government, communities and partners.

She stated, “A lot of hard work will be needed to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goal (having 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those people on antiretrovirals, and 95 per cent of those on ART reaching viral suppression), but with the support of the Government of Osun State, communities, and partners, I have no doubt this surge will propel the state to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and thereby save many lives.”

The statement noted that Osun State had almost 30,000 people estimated to be living with HIV, 13,500 of which were yet to be identified and placed on treatment.

It noted that the HIV Treatment Surge aimed to close the gap, achieve treatment saturation, prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies and enhance adolescent and key population services, thereby ensuring an AIDS-free generation.

“As of March 2023, 1.8 million Nigerians are receiving HIV treatment via PEPFAR as the country moves closer to its goal of reaching HIV epidemic control,” it added.