The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have jointly pledged to integrate HIV prevention, care, and treatment services into Nigeria’s emergency response systems. This strategic collaboration aims to ensure that vulnerable populations affected by disasters and humanitarian crises continue to receive uninterrupted access to essential HIV services.
The announcement was made during the Seventh National Council on AIDS (NCA) Meeting held in Lagos, where stakeholders from across the health, humanitarian, and development sectors gathered to advance Nigeria’s HIV sustainability agenda. The theme of the three-day event was “Advancing National HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid.”
Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director General of NACA, emphasized the urgency of embedding HIV services into emergency response protocols, especially in light of declining international donor support. “We must take full ownership of our HIV response. Emergencies—whether natural disasters, conflicts, or pandemics—should not disrupt access to life-saving treatment and prevention,” she stated.
NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar echoed the commitment, noting that integrating health services into disaster response is critical to safeguarding lives and maintaining public health. “Emergencies must not derail our progress in the fight against HIV. We are committed to building resilience into our response systems,” she said.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader shift toward country-led ownership of its HIV response, reducing dependence on external donors and embedding sustainability into national policy frameworks.