NACA urges states to tackle HIV/AIDS with 1% of monthly allocation

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has called on state governments to allocate one per cent of their monthly federal allocation to the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Dr Sani Aliyu, the Director-General of the agency, made the call on Friday during a courtesy call on the Kwara Deputy Gov. Peter Kisira, in Ilorin.

The director-general said that such allocation would take care of the gap that would be created by external donors that were leaving the country.

He said that the idea had been suggested to the governors at a meeting in Abuja, under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Aliyu commended the Kwara government for its budgetary provision for the Kwara State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KWASACA).

He called for prompt release of such funds to enhance the job of the agency and deliver on its mandate as well as the release of the World Bank counterpart funding of up to N60 million.

Aliyu described as low the prevalence rate of the scourge in the state compared to other states.

The NACA chief urged the Kwara government to work toward further reduction.

He said that the Mother to Child transition had been effectively taken care of because of the potency of the drug.

Aliyu lauded the state for the introduction of the Community Health Insurance Scheme among others aimed at bringing health care delivery closer to the people.

Responding, Kisira said that the Kwara government placed great emphasis on the control of AIDS in the state and was showing concern for people living with the condition.

The deputy governor said that necessary machinery would be put in place to eliminate HIV and AIDS in the state.

He described funding as a great challenge and appealed to NACA to give special consideration to the state in view of its peculiar nature.