Health advocates have renewed calls for Nigeria to take full ownership of its HIV response, warning that dependence on foreign donors threatens long-term sustainability of treatment, prevention, and care services.
The call was made on Thursday at a media engagement organised by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) ahead of the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration in Abuja.
In his remarks, the President of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, urged government and stakeholders to prioritise local solutions and reduce reliance on international funding.
Mr Ibrahim said it is time for Nigeria to take full ownership of its HIV response and build a health system that leaves no one behind, including people living with HIV.
He noted that although HIV interventions have benefitted from foreign support for years, Nigeria cannot continue to depend on a programme that is being dictated, especially as donor priorities shift.
He said recent changes in United States global health funding illustrated the risk of over reliance on external financing.
While HIV programmes received some protection under the new policy direction, he said prevention efforts were still affected.
He added that what matters now is sustaining the gains already made, noting that integrating HIV into the broader health system would also help reduce stigma by ensuring people living with HIV are treated like other patients.
Retention, innovation, and community ownership
Mr Ibrahim also highlighted the need for better retention in care and modern treatment options.
He advocated for wider access to long-acting injectable therapies for treatment, not just prevention, arguing that they help reduce the burden of daily medication.
“Retention is critical. We must continue to support adherence, provide psychosocial services, and ensure people who miss appointments are reconnected to care,” he said.
He added that government efforts must be complemented by community actors, including women’s groups, youths, and religious leaders, who are central to sustaining progress.
The Senior Manager for Prevention Programmes at AHF, Taofeek Adeleye, called for stronger media engagement to counter misinformation and promote accurate public education on HIV prevention.
Mr Adeleye said prevention messaging must be consistent and visible, much like religious reminders, arguing that preventing one infection saves significant costs in treatment.
“We need the media to help demystify the false information that continues to circulate,” he said.
AHF expands youth-focused STI and HIV services
AHF Nigeria announced that it recently opened Wellness Centres in Abuja and Benue to address the rising prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among adolescents and young people.
The organisation’s Country Programme Director, Echey Ijezie, said the centres were established to provide safe, youth-friendly spaces for testing, counselling, and treatment.
Mr Ijezie said the decision to target this population informed the partnership with Keffi State University to expand access for students and empower young people to take charge of their health.
As part of the 2025 World AIDS Day activities, he said AHF will conduct sensitisation campaigns across states, offer free HIV testing, and distribute condoms and other prevention materials.
Mr Ijezie emphasised that HIV remains a global challenge, noting that 1.3 million new infections occur annually.
The commemoration, he said, aims to promote prevention, expand access to care, and demonstrate solidarity with affected communities.
‘The fight isn’t over’
The AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Martin Matabishi, said Africa has made significant progress against HIV, but rising infections among young women and adolescents show the response must evolve.
Mr Matabishi said the AIDS response can only be transformed by embracing inclusive health policies, promoting combination prevention, and empowering communities to lead the fight against stigma and inequality.
He also urged the media to continue shaping public understanding and keeping HIV/AIDS and other health priorities visible in national discourse.
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World AIDS Day
According to the World Health Organisation, 1 December marks the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration, with the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
WHO said the day highlights the need for sustained political commitment, international cooperation, and human-rights-centred approaches to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
The organisation noted that despite decades of progress, the HIV response now stands at a critical point, with life-saving services facing disruptions and many communities experiencing increased risks and vulnerabilities.
However, it added that hope remains in the resilience, determination, and innovation of communities working to end AIDS.
