50,000 Nigerians Living With HIV To Get Free Treatment Annually- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that his administration would place 50,000 Nigerians living with HIV on treatment annually.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating HIV/AIDS in the African region by 2030.

According to him, “Nigeria had made good its commitment at the High-Level Meeting at a side event at the 72nd Session of the UNGA in September 2017, to begin placing 50,000 Nigerians living with HIV on treatment annually, using national resources.

“President Buhari, while addressing the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV\AIDS, called for a renewed global action to decisively address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African region and eliminate the disease by 2030.”

He explained that his administration, as a way of addressing the epidemic had granted an exceptional waiver for the use of competitive international tender facilities to procure antiretroviral medicines at more than 30 percent cost efficiency.

“I want to reiterate Nigerian Government’s full support for a clear and ambitious Common African Position and New Political Declaration that can help to reduce the public health threat of HIV/AIDS, strengthen resilience to end the disease, and address current and future health emergencies.

“We further commit to urgently translating all new and agreed Political Declarations into country action as a means of decisively addressing the HIV epidemic in the African region.

“We will continue to work with fellow Heads of State and Government across the continent to ensure sustained high-level political engagement in achieving these goals.

“I personally granted an exceptional waiver for the use of competitive international tender facilities to procure antiretroviral medicines at more than 30 percent cost efficiency, enabling more Nigerians to be placed on life-saving antiretroviral treatment within the same budget,” he said.

Buhari also noted that the AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey, of 2018, enabled Nigeria to set realistic targets and identify those that are not being reached with the necessary services.

“This has further enabled Nigeria through the support of the United States Government, Global Fund, Civil Society and other partners, to enroll almost 1.5 million Nigerians on life-saving HIV treatment.

“We have recorded tremendous growth in our treatment programme, especially over the past two years,” he added.