Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will be on the path to achieving epidemic control of HIV by 2030.
Speaking at the conclusion of the pilot activity dissemination for the Strengthening HIV Self-testing in the Private Sector project by the Society for Family Health, a Non-Governmental organization, Dr. Bashorun highlighted the progress made by Nigeria in the past three decades in reducing HIV prevalence.
He emphasized that the government, in collaboration with partners, has made significant efforts in the areas of prevention and treatment since 2010.
Dr. Bashorun stated, “From 2010 until now, the government, with the support of partners, has made substantial strides in the field of HIV prevention and treatment.”
“We have been able to escalate our information. So I think these things have worked. So by 2030, we should be moving towards a form of epidemic control.
“Epidemic control does not mean there is no disease, but it means your system and everything are controlling the disease to a level that you can manage and sustain the progress you have made over the years,” he said.
Bashorun mentioned that one of the tactics used was to increase the number of people receiving treatment. He also pointed out that, from a scientific point of view, the more people who were treated, the fewer people they could infect.
“So if somebody is positive now and the person is on treatment, the probability that the person will infect you is very low because the viral load that causes the virus would have been crushed.”
Dr. Adebobola Bashorun highlighted the significance of self-testing kits, emphasizing that testing is the crucial first step in accessing care for HIV.
He explained that the self-testing program enables individuals to test themselves conveniently without the need to visit a healthcare facility.
Dr. Bashorun emphasized that making self-testing kits available over-the-counter, similar to pregnancy test kits, would enable people to know their HIV status early on.
Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, the Managing Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH), stressed the importance of promoting HIV self-testing alongside other essential components.
The Deputy Managing Director of Operations and Service Delivery of SFH, Dr. Idogho, Represented by Mr. Kenechukwu Eruchalu, stated that this approach would create a consumer-centric ecosystem and improve access to and adoption of HIV self-testing.
