The Kwara State Government has inaugurated the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Acceleration Plan Committee to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
At the inauguration in Ilorin on Friday, the Deputy Governor of Kwara and Chairman of the Kwara AIDS Control Agency, Mr. Kayode Alabi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating HIV transmission, particularly among newborns.
He commended the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for selecting Kwara as one of the pilot states for the initiative and assured that despite limited resources, the state remains steadfast in its fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Kwara has consistently demonstrated leadership in combating HIV, and this recognition by NACA underscores our efforts. We are determined to eliminate mother-to-child transmission and provide optimal care for children already affected,” Alabi said.
He reiterated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to healthcare and emphasized the need for sustained collaboration with national and international partners to expand HIV response programs in the state.
Also speaking, Mr. Razaq Owolabi, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Share/Oke-Ode Constituency, pledged legislative support for the committee’s mission to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, praised Kwara’s leadership for its readiness to implement the initiative, noting that the integration of HIV services into the National Health Insurance Scheme for vulnerable groups is one of NACA’s key goals, which Kwara has already embraced.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, described the committee’s inauguration as a call to urgent action.
“Kwara has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates in Nigeria, and Governor AbdulRazaq is committed to achieving a 0.0% prevalence rate,” she stated.
Dr. Selim Alabi, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State AIDS Control Agency (KWASACA), assured that with capable personnel, strong structures, and strategic partnerships, the initiative’s objectives would be successfully achieved.
