The United States government and the federal government last week signed a partnership framework implementation plan on HIV/AIDS for 2010-2015.
Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said that the HIV epidemic in Nigeria has seen a steady decline of about 25 percent since the National Multi-sectoral approach earnestly began in 2001 to 2009.
He said that the Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to ensure that? the trend of HIV in the country is reversed adding that this has been demonstrated by the government’s focus on prevention interventions especially the elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV.
He said that the United States’ President’s Emergency Programme for AIDS Relief(PERFAR) is the largest bilateral donor to Nigeria’s health sector, having provided over $400 million by 2010 in support for HIV/AIDS prevention, care ,and treatment.
On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, he expressed gratitude to the United States Government and other development partners who have remained committed towards the reversal of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
In his remark, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley said that the US/Nigeria partnership on HIV/AIDS began in 2004 through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief known as PERFAR.
He stressed that from 2004 to 2011,? the United States’ support for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmes in Nigeria? has risen to the tune of $2.5 billion? (N225 billion)
He said that? last year,? Nigeria and the United States of America signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU),approving a Partnership Framework on HIV/AIDS for 2010 to 2015,? adding that the US current engagement in Nigeria is based on this Partnership Framework, which contains a five-year strategic agenda for cooperation between the two countries.
He explained that the Partnership Framework sets out the expected contributions of the Nigerian and US Governments toward achieving the policy and programmatic agenda set forth in the National Strategic framework for the control of HIV/AIDS for 2010 to 2015 and the National Strategic Health Development Plan of the Federal Ministry of Health.
He assured that despite the economic challenges being faced by his country, the American Government and people are unwavering in their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS pointing out that President Obama has put forward a comprehensive approach to global health and development programming that builds upon the successes of PERFAR and other programmes through the Global Health Initiative(GHI).
?Senator Pius Anyim signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria while the US Ambassador Terrence McCulley signed on behalf of the US Government.