In a move to eliminate pediatric HIV in Nigeria, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. During a landmark event in Jalingo, Taraba State—the state with the highest HIV prevalence in the North-East—Dr. Ilori launched the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Accelerated Response Committee.
This historic step comes as part of Nigeria’s intensified campaign to wipe out pediatric HIV and deliver on the global goal of an HIV-free generation. The NACA DG announced that antiretroviral drugs and HIV testing kits remain available across the country, despite recent global disruptions.
She attributed this success to increased budgetary allocations channeled through the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, adding that the government is “fully committed to reducing HIV to the barest minimum and ensuring no child is born with the virus.”
Taraba, with a 2.9% HIV prevalence rate, has become the epicenter of a revitalized response. Dr. Ilori described the committee’s launch as a game-changer in Nigeria’s health landscape, stating that “breaking the cycle of mother-to-child transmission is key to ending the HIV epidemic.”
The committee includes interfaith leaders, healthcare professionals, and community advocates—a coalition designed to raise awareness and deliver impact from antenatal clinics to rural communities. “This is not just another program; this is a movement to change the future of children in Taraba,” Dr. Ilori emphasized.
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Dr. Bodiya Boma, Taraba’s Commissioner for Health, echoed the optimism. “With the full support of Governor Agbu Kefas, we believe Taraba will eliminate mother-to-child transmission by 2030. This is our mission and we will achieve it.”
The Director General of the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Dr. Bako Ali Istifanus, called the event “a turning point” in the state’s HIV response. He noted that while progress has been made, gaps remain in pediatric care and PMTCT services. “The new Prevention and Pediatric AIDS Committee (PPAC) will bridge these gaps and ensure no child is left behind,” he said.
Pharm. Oliver Wubon, Chairman of TACA’s board, highlighted the power of collaboration between federal and state governments, NGOs, and faith-based groups. “We commend NACA for its leadership and urge the committee to ensure that no child in Taraba is born with HIV,” he said.
Dr. Ilori closed the event with a heartfelt tribute to healthcare workers and community volunteers, calling them “the true heroes” in the fight against HIV. “You are the reason this dream is possible,” she said.
As Nigeria battles to bring HIV prevalence down to zero, the newly inaugurated committee is more than a policy—it’s a promise. A promise that with political will, grassroots collaboration, and unrelenting focus, a future without pediatric HIV is not just possible—it’s near.
