Nigerian government launches trust fund for HIV

By Nike Adebowale

As part of efforts to fill the HIV funding gap in the country, the Nigerian government wants to launch the National HIV Trust Fund.

The director general of the National AIDS Agency (NACA), Sani Aliyu, revealed it at the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2018, which took place on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the State House of Abuja.

Every year, on December 1st, World AIDS Day aims to encourage communities to unite against HIV, to support people living with the disease and to remind those who have died of AIDS.

The theme of World AIDS Day 2018 is "Know your status".

This year marks three decades of commemoration of World AIDS Day and 30 years of global progress in the fight against HIV.

According to Mr. Aliyu, the seed money needed to establish the HIV Trust Fund is about $ 15 million.

He said the initiative, led by the private sector, would provide a platform for further private sector contributions.

Aliyu said the trust fund is the result of the government's engagement with the private sector.

"We are working to strengthen our engagement with the private sector in Nigeria through the Nigerian AIDS Business Coalition (NIBUCAA) with the aim of increasing national HIV funding for a more comprehensive response. sustainable.

"The soon-to-be launched HIV Trust Fund will provide the platform for more concrete contributions from the private sector and we hope that the resources provided by this window will contribute to reducing the gap in access. antiretroviral therapy for people alive. " with HIV, "he said.

Aliyu also noted that states had begun to react to the idea of ​​reserving 1% of their monthly federal allocations for funding the AIDS response.

NACA Board Chair Pauline Tallen said the goals of the national HIV response are achievable if all parties involved play their part.

Ms. Tallen said the council would continue to play a leading role in advocacy, including for the creation of greater fiscal space for HIV, particularly at the state level, where needs are greater.

In his message of goodwill, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, National Secretary of the Network of People Living with HIV / AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), urged the federal government to consider approving a budget line for the network.

This, he said, would address the challenges facing its economically disadvantaged members.