Connect with us

News

Aisha Buhari accepts UNAIDS Special Ambassador post-UNAIDS Director

Published

on

Aisha Buhari appeals for media support to eradicate TB from Nigeria

The Wife of Mr President, Aisha Buhari, has accepted the appointment as new UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Promotion of Treatment for Children living with HIV in Nigeria.

Mr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, made this known in a statement issued by the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) on Monday in Abuja.

Recall that on March 17, UNAIDS appointed Buhari as UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Promotion of Treatment for Children living with HIV in Nigeria.

“I am privileged to announce Aisha Buhari’s acceptance of the appointment as UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Nigeria.

“The trust and respect that she commands in the country will help us to quicken the pace of stopping new HIV infections among children as well as ensuring treatment for all children living with HIV,” Sidibé said.

Sidibé, noted that the appointment of Ms Buhari will reinforce recent efforts of Nigerian government to scale up the response to HIV in the country.

The Director explained that during her one-year tenure, she would advocate for increased access to antenatal care services and HIV testing for all pregnant women and their linkage to adequate treatment and care.

She would also advocate for an increase in domestic resources for the HIV response at the federal and state levels.

The statement also quoted Buhari as saying that “It is with a great sense of responsibility and humility that I accept the honour to serve as a UNAIDS Special Ambassador.

“I am looking forward to using my voice to help ensure that no child is born with HIV in Nigeria by 2020,” she said.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Board Chairperson, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), said the agency was delighted that Buhari had accepted to serve as UNAIDS Special Ambassador.

She added that the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria was a laudable one, stressing that it must be achieved.

The statement said a formal ceremony to commemorate Ms Buhari’s acceptance of her appointment would take place in April during the visit of Mr Sidibé to Abuja.

Nan

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel