‘Progress!’ Nigeria to Begin Local Production of HIV Drugs, Test Kits by 2025—NACA

OwelekeTV — The Nigerian government has announced plans to commence domestic production of HIV commodities, including test kits and antiretroviral drugs, before the end of 2025.

Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, made this known on Friday in Ilorin during the inauguration of the Kwara Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.

Ilori stated that this initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Other measures being implemented include expanding access to the National Health Insurance Scheme, mobilizing financial resources for state-level interventions, intensifying advocacy efforts, and supporting ongoing research into potential HIV vaccines.

According to Ilori, the establishment of the committee is crucial in achieving an AIDS-free generation and ensuring a sustainable response to HIV in Nigeria.

HIV Burden and Current Challenges

Referencing the 2023 UNAIDS report, Ilori highlighted that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 in Nigeria are currently living with HIV. She added that the country records about 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths among children every year.

“Despite progress, PMTCT and paediatric HIV coverage remain below 33 per cent, far from the 95 per cent target,”

she said.

She further noted that although Kwara State’s HIV prevalence rate of 0.8 per cent is lower than the national average of 1.4 per cent, significant gaps persist.

She pointed out that women bear a heavier burden, with a prevalence rate of 1.3 per cent compared to 0.4 per cent in men. Some local government areas, she added, still require intensified interventions to curb the infection rate.

Addressing Donor Dependency and Sustainability

Ilori emphasized the importance of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid for its HIV response.

“Over the past few days, I have received numerous calls regarding the implications of the 90-day foreign aid suspension on our HIV programme.

While we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation underscores the need for government-led sustainability efforts,” she said.

She explained that the government is working on integrating HIV services into the national health system while strengthening state and federal structures to ensure continuous support.

Other strategies include encouraging technical assistance from development partners, ensuring timely release of funds for state and local government HIV programmes, and investing in community-driven responses to sustain progress.

National and State-Level Commitment

Ilori disclosed that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, had inaugurated a National Acceleration Committee, and that the model was being replicated at the state level to improve mother-to-child transmission prevention and enhance real-time HIV programme monitoring.

She called for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders, urging them to support the government in compiling a detailed database of children of HIV-positive parents.

“Achieving an AIDS-free generation is within reach, and no child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara State,”

she said.

In his remarks, Kwara Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, reassured that the state government would fully support the committee’s mandate.

As the Chairman of the Kwara State AIDS Control Agency, he expressed optimism that with the committee’s work, mother-to-child transmission of HIV would soon be eliminated in the state.