The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has announced that the State of Emergency on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV will remain in force until no Nigerian child is born with the virus.
Speaking at the National HIV Health Sector Symposium held on Tuesday in Abuja, Dr. Salako emphasized that eliminating pediatric HIV is one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health priorities, and reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to achieving an AIDS-free generation by 2030.
“We must ensure that every pregnant woman living with HIV has access to care, including timely antiretroviral therapy. This is our fundamental commitment to preventing transmission to her child,” Dr. Salako stated.
The Minister praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support and high-impact advocacy through the Renewed Hope Initiative and her role on the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OFLAD).
“We are extremely privileged to have the motherly presence and support of the First Lady of Nigeria… Her efforts through the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign for the elimination of HIV as a public health threat is a major contributor to the progress Nigeria is making,” Salako declared.
He acknowledged her contributions to raising awareness and mobilizing priority attention for public health, particularly pediatric HIV prevention and treatment.
Nigeria has made significant strides in HIV control. According to Dr. Salako, pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage improved dramatically from 29% to 74% in 2024, while PMTCT coverage and early infant diagnosis also rose to 66% and 57%, respectively.
However, the Minister warned that Nigeria still contributes over 9,000 new pediatric HIV infections annually, making the country one of the highest-burden nations globally in this category.
“Despite this progress, the statistics constantly remind us that our work is far from over,” he stressed. “This is a clear call to action to collaborate and accelerate efforts to close the gaps in PMTCT and early infant diagnosis coverage.”
Salako reassured stakeholders that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is backing HIV control efforts with concrete action. He cited the President’s swift intervention in January 2025, where he approved a $200 million emergency allocation for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis in response to global donor funding cuts.
“Nigeria is committed to sustainable funding for our HIV/AIDS programme,” Salako affirmed. “This was demonstrated by President Tinubu’s leadership.”
Beyond pediatric HIV, Salako outlined Nigeria’s multi-pronged HIV control strategy, which includes: Free access to antiretroviral treatment for 1.7 million Nigerians; Promotion of voluntary medical male circumcision; Scaling up pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP); Behavioral change communication to address stigma and promote prevention; Consistent condom promotion and distribution; and Community-level engagement to increase service uptake
“In the last two years, Nigeria has recorded a consistent drop in new HIV infections and in the burden of mother-to-child transmission,” he noted.
Dr. Salako called for stronger partnerships and innovations in service delivery, while urging collective action to dismantle stigma and ensure no child is left behind.
“We must work hand-in-hand with our communities to promote uptake of PMTCT and pediatric HIV services,” he said. “We must ensure universal access and increase domestic funding.”
He also commended the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) for organizing the symposium and recognized the pivotal roles played by civil society, healthcare workers, researchers, and development partners.
As he concluded, Salako reinforced Nigeria’s resolve to meet global targets and secure the future of its youngest citizens.
“Let me announce that the State of Emergency on PMTCT remains until no Nigerian child is born with HIV,” he declared to resounding applause. “I am confident that together, we can, and we will, make a difference.”
The symposium, attended by key stakeholders from across government, development agencies, and civil society, marks a critical moment in Nigeria’s accelerated push toward eliminating pediatric HIV and achieving sustainable health security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
