Stuart Symington, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, said the United States government has allocated an additional $75 million to the fight against HIV/AIDs in Nigeria through its President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
He said the increased funding is to make antiretrovirals available and to enable more people living with HIV to live a healthy and productive lives until the day a cure for the virus is found.
In a ststement, he said, “the United States remains committed to supporting Nigeria as it works to reduce and ultimately eliminate the scourge of HIV/AIDS among its people.”
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the US government’s response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and helps save the lives of those suffering from the disease. It was launched by U.S. President George Bush in 2003 and it has reportedly spent about $4.7billion in the past 14 years to fight HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
According to research, about 5.5 per cent of the people living with HIV in Nigeria are in Akwa Ibom State, followed by Benue State with about 5.3 per cent prevalence rate.
It also states that while the North-west had the lowest prevalence rate at 0.6 per cent, the South-south had the highest with 3.1 per cent.
Mr Stuart also added that agency is implementing an Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) surge programme in Rivers State to identify and provide treatment to approximately 180,000 PLHIV who have not previously received such.
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