U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, says more than forty four thousand people were diagnosed with HIV through its One-Stop-Shop service delivery model project that provided high quality and stigma-free HIV prevention services while twenty three thousand people were provided with life-saving antiretroviral therapy, out of which, eighty five percent, their infection have become untransmissible with a suppressed viral load.
Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja Bureau reports that the success story was revealed at a closing ceremony between the Agency and its ten years partner, the Heartland Alliance International which said the treatment was provided in ‘safe spaces’ that encouraged the community members to discuss their health issues in confidence with healthcare professionals.
USAID closed books on the ten year long running activity that provided high quality and stigma-free HIV prevention services to some of the most at-risk populations with the overall aim to control and ultimately eradicate the deadly virus in Nigeria.
Addressing the guests, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by the USAID Mission Director, Mr. Steven Haykin, reeled out some of the achievements recorded within the ten years to include providing testing for HIV, to more than five hundred and eighteen thousand people at risk, and reached another eight hundred and ninety eight thousand individuals with HIV preventions adapted to their gender.
He pledged that USAID remains committed to working with the Nigerian government and people to improve delivery of services for people infected with HIV marginalized groups adding that as the Agency looks to an AIDS-free generation.
While the Integrated Most-at-Risk-Populations HIV Prevention Project is at an end, Mr. Haykin said a successor activity has recently begun operating to augment existing USAID HIV care and treatment efforts to advance Nigeria’s pathway to epidemic control by increasing access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
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