The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced that Nigeria will start producing HIV test kits and antiretroviral drugs domestically before the end of 2025.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, made this disclosure on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the inauguration of the Kwara Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.
Ilori explained that the local production of HIV/AIDS commodities is part of the government’s broader plan to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
According to Ilori, the Nigerian government is creating an enabling environment to combat AIDS through several initiatives, including: producing HIV/AIDS drugs and test kits locally, enrolling all Nigerians in the national health insurance program, mobilizing resources to states, strengthening advocacy efforts, and supporting vaccine research and innovation.
She emphasized that setting up the PMTCT and Pediatrics ART Acceleration Committee is a significant step toward achieving an AIDS-Free Generation in Nigeria.
Ilori highlighted the worrying statistics about HIV in Nigerian children, based on the 2023 UNAIDS report.
“Approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV in Nigeria,” she revealed.
“Every year, we record 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths among children.”
Despite progress, she noted that the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and pediatric HIV treatment coverage remains below 33%, far from the global target of 95%.
“To tackle this problem, the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children was introduced in 2021, with full financial support. However, coverage remains low,” she added.
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Ilori pointed out that Kwara State’s HIV prevalence rate stands at 0.8%, lower than the national average of 1.4%. However, disparities exist within the state.
“Women are disproportionately affected, with a prevalence rate of 1.3%, compared to 0.4% for men,” she said.
“Some local governments require targeted interventions to maintain and further reduce these rates.”
She stressed that the goal of achieving an AIDS-Free Generation is possible.
“No child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara State,” Ilori stated.
She urged all partners to support the creation of a comprehensive list of children born to HIV-positive mothers, describing it as a crucial step in improving pediatric HIV treatment nationwide.
The NACA boss also raised concerns about Nigeria’s heavy dependence on donor funding for its HIV/AIDS programs.
“Over the past few days, I have received numerous calls regarding the 90-day suspension of foreign aid and its impact on our HIV programs,” she said.
“While we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation highlights the urgent need for government-led sustainability efforts.”
She emphasized that Nigeria must reduce its reliance on foreign donors and invest in domestic resources to sustain its HIV response.
The Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Kayode Alabi, assured that the state government is fully committed to ensuring the success of the newly formed committee.
“The state government will do everything necessary to help this committee achieve its mandate,” Alabi said.
With the launch of local HIV drug production in 2025 and increased efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission, Nigeria is taking significant steps to fight HIV/AIDS and move closer to an AIDS-Free Generation.