In anticipation of this year's World AIDS Day on December 1, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria is issuing a caution that the battle against HIV/AIDS is ongoing. The organization plans a commemorative walk from Berger roundabout under the bridge to the AHF Nigeria Country office in Jabi, Abuja, starting at 8:30 a.m. on December 1. Godwin-Amobi Ogah, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on AIDS, TB, and Malaria, is set to flag off the walk, joined by other Committee members and partner CSOs, CBOs, and youth groups.The event aims to honor those lost to AIDS-related illnesses, support ongoing efforts, and globally unite against HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the need for community-driven initiatives as reflected in the theme 'Let Community Lead.' Despite progress, the global HIV/AIDS response faces challenges such as insufficient funding, high transmission rates, and inadequate prioritization, particularly in lower-income countries.
AHF Nigeria's World AIDS Day activities include community testing campaigns across its program states, with a special testing campaign in the FCT in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). The organization plans to distribute around 75,000 free condoms during these campaigns.
Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director, emphasized the organization's supportive role in the government's efforts to end AIDS by 2030. AHF Nigeria is prioritizing projects promoting gender equality and grassroots leadership, establishing Community Advocacy Clubs, and investing in community education through radio to empower rural communities with preventive knowledge.
World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1, serves as an opportunity for advocates to raise awareness, combat stigma, and call for resources and political will to fight HIV/AIDS globally. The event underscores that the battle is not over.