HIV/AIDS: U.S Honours Osotimehin, Idoko, 14 Other Nigerians

The United States Government has honoured 16 Nigerians for their “momentous contributions to the control of HIV in Nigeria.”

The event which held in Abuja on Monday, saw late Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, a former minister of health and head of National Agency Against Aids (NACA) being honoured alongside 15 others.

A statement by the US Embassy in Nigeria, Abuja, said the award was under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – Nigeria Program.

Other than Osotimehin, others were recognized include Prof. John Idoko; Dr. Sani Aliyu; Mrs. Samuel, Grace Toni; Mr. Victor Olaore Omoshehin; Ms. Tobore Ovuorie; Dr. William Blattner; Ukam Reginald Assumpta.

Others are Dr. Patrick Olabiyi Matemilola; Mrs. Lucy Attah Enyia; Alban Anonyuo; MWO Musa Emmanuel (rtd); Major General Ogbonnaya Simon Njoku (rtd); Major General Tahir Umar (rtd); Major General Life Ajemba (rtd); and Brigadier General Nurudeen Ayoola Hussain (rtd).

Dubbed: “A Night to Remember” the event rounded off activities in commemoration of PEPFAR’s 15th anniversary, the statement said “in celebrating PEPFAR, we call to remembrance and honor these phenomenal men and women.”

The statement further stated that “drawn from government, civil society and private citizens, these individuals have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve those affected by HIV.

“In the face of the epidemic, they have provided outstanding leadership, fought against the significant stigma and discrimination that impedes HIV service uptake, offered innovations, and made great sacrifices for the greater good.”

In his remarks at the event, U.S. Ambassador, Mr. W. Stuart Symington, stated that, “PEPFAR is the U.S. government’s response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and represents the largest commitment in history, by any nation, to address a single disease.”

He noted that, through the leadership and generosity of the American government and people, together with the work of many partners, PEPFAR has saved millions of lives, averted millions of infections, and changed the course of the AIDS epidemic.

According the embassy statement, the U.S. Government’s global commitment to fighting the AIDS epidemic stands at $80 billion dollars, combatting what has been described as the worst human scourge in history.

In Nigeria alone, the U.S. Government has invested more than $5 billion in the national HIV/AIDS response.