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It is with excitement that I make this remark today because the desire to have a forum like this where we can discuss as a zone issues that concern HIV and AIDS has been long overdue.
Before we proceed, we must at this point appreciate all those who created the enabling environment for this event to hold.
Join me appreciate with a clapping ovation to the Delta State Team for taking up the boldness to host this maiden edition.
On this note we welcome every one of us (physically and virtually present) to this maiden edition of this summit.
To the issue that brought us here together, the HIV Response; no doubt that we have made some gains over the years especially for being able to roll back the trend from numerous cases of AIDS related deaths about 20years ago to having stabilization of treatment using drugs.
We even attained the U=U (Undetectable Equals Untransmitable) status in some cases and this was because stakeholders were out there doing the needful.
We need to remind ourselves again that for now there is yet to be a known cure for HIV, however, preventive and treatment options are available; though mainly donor fund driven.
The theme of the Summit, Resource Mobilization: Where do we go was chosen considering the fact if we must attain the UNAIDS 95-95-95 and End AIDS by 2030, there must be a conscious and deliberate effort to improve on what we currently have as HIV Response.
There have been talks on domestic resource mobilization to fund the HIV Response in our country Nigeria but this has not effectively taken off.
Currently available services are mainly donor fund driven and these funds are now channelled more to treatment.
Even as we know that treatment contribute to prevention, the question is what happened to the conventional prevention services that has taken us this far; we must realize that when the level of awareness and sensitization was high the gains were obvious.
This is one area the Government must take the lead on to ensure that effective measures are in pace to address this major gap.
We are aware that COVID-19 affected everything in the world and HIV Response was not an exception; however, considering the peculiar factors surrounding HIV, efforts should be intensified to close the gaps.
We must continually remember, that on a daily basis, our adolescents and young people are migrating into the risky age group; economic, social and cultural factors that are responsible for the spread of HIV have not reduced; cases of gender based violence with many unreported cases are very prevalent in our society.
We would not fail to mention rising cases of drug and substance abuse that impair judgement.
All these and many others are clear indicators that if appropriate measures are not taken, we may be on the path of reversing the gains we have made over the years.
This Summit actually focused on the South-South geopolitical zone with the following states Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States. It is actually shocking that in all of these States, there is none that the State Agency for Control of AIDS (SACA) is properly funded to respond to the HIV needs of the State.
In some of the States, the HIV Response has also been politicized to the point that those occupying office see themselves more than the people they are supposed to serve.
This has created a stated of uncoordinated responses from partners in the state and watering down the impact.
We have also read some unverifiable claims on the media which we would term as misinformation and it is not good for the response.
A recent one was on world AIDS Day, 2022 when a report emanated from Edo State among other questionable claims that the Governor has reconstituted the Edo State Agency for Control of AIDS (EDOSACA) Board.
The list of the board members with other details is not available and those statutorily by Law are supposed to be members are not aware.
Finally, as stakeholders we need to carefully watch out and counter every form of misinformation and actions that may create an impression that all is well with the HIV Response when in actual sense things are not well.
With a clear understanding of what role and impact that adequate resources would play, I am using this medium to enjoin us to be open to this discussion on Resource Mobilization and answering the question where do we go.
At the end of this summit we would have a communique that we would use to engage the Government of our six states on the need for them to do the needful especially in the area of empowering the SACA to coordinate effectively as well as creating enabling environment for stakeholders to properly operate.
Once again I welcome everyone to this summit, looking forward to a fruitful deliberation and wish us journey mercies to our respective destination.
Thanks for making the Summit a success.
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