Following the official visit of Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS executive director and under secretary-general of the United Nations, to Nigeria in February, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) is stepping up efforts to ensure that the country’s leadership participates in the upcoming United Nations general assembly high level meeting on ending AIDS.
This is according to a statement released today by the United Nations Information Centre in Nigeria, and signed by Oluseyi Soremekun, its national information officer.
“NACA recognises the importance of the upcoming high level meeting to the global goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. My team is working hard to ensure that Nigeria contributes to preparations for the meeting and that it is represented by the highest political leadership possible during the meeting,” said the director general of NACA, John Idoko.
According to him, the upcoming meeting, which take place in New York from 8 to 10 June, offers a timely and critical opportunity for the political leadership in Nigeria to help nurture the global partnership and cooperation that shall guide and monitor the AIDS response up to 2021 and beyond.
During his official visit to Nigeria in February, Sidibé explained the importance of the high level meeting to Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice president and appealed to the generality of Nigerian authorities to play a leadership role in it.
He also made similar appeals during meetings with Babachir David Lawal, the secretary to the government of the federation, Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, and Udo Udoma, the minister budget and national planning.
Others who met with him were Isaac Adewole, the minister of health, John Idoko, the DG of NACA, as well as members of the national assembly, the donor community, the private sector and the civil society.
The high level meeting on ending AIDS aims to review the progress achieved in realising the implementation of the political declarations of 2011, including successes, lessons learned, obstacles and gaps, as well as challenges and opportunities.
The meeting is also expected to adopt a new political declaration to guide the AIDS response until 2021.
“It has become scientifically evident that the world can defeat AIDS by 2030 and that Nigeria can lead this global success,” said Bilali Camara, UNAIDS country director for Nigeria and UNAIDS focal point for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
YANGE IKYAA
