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The United States government is making available additional $75 million to fight the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria.
Making the disclosure in a statement by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy, the American nation pointed out that People Living with HIV (PLHIV) globally needed appropriate medical treatment to live a normal and healthy life.
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), administered by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Department of Defence and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is implementing an Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) surge programme in Rivers State to identify and provide treatment to approximately 180,000 carriers who have not previously received such.
Ambassador W. Stuart Symington yesterday led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor Nyesom Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt to highlight his government’s $75 million budget increase for HIV control activities in Nigeria, with some $25 million allocated for the ART activities.
The envoy commended his host for moving to eliminate user-fees for PLHIV.
The delegation was in the state to advocate elimination of user-fees for PLIV, antenatal care charges for pregnant women living with the virus and other barriers hindering PLHIV from accessing health services.
