As we mark World AIDS Day 2024, the Civil Society for HIV & AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN) has called for a resilient and sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.
In a statement signed on Sunday, Dr. Remi Obinatu, Chairman of the Governing Council of CISHAN, called on the Nigerian government, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders to scale up HIV testing and treatment services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
CISHAN also called on stakeholders to address the social and economic determinants of health, including poverty, stigma, and discrimination, which exacerbate the HIV epidemic.
Also, the organization tasked stakeholders on the need to promote human rights and gender equality by recognizing that these are essential to ending the AIDS epidemic.
The statement assured that CISHAN remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria achieves the 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
“CISHAN joins the global community in reaffirming our commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This year’s theme, ‘Closing the Gap’, resonates deeply with our mission to promote a resilient and sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.
“Today, we honor the lives lost to AIDS and celebrate the progress made in the fight against this disease. However, we are equally mindful of the gaps that remain in our response, particularly in reaching marginalized communities and ensuring equitable access to HIV services,” the statement read.
CISHAN urged everyone to join in the effort to create a world where people living with HIV can lead healthy and fulfilling lives, free from stigma and discrimination.
