The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has inaugurated a committee on the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMCT) of HIV in Enugu State.
NACA Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, disclosed this on Wednesday during the committee’s official inauguration in Enugu.
She explained that the initiative aims to support and complement the efforts of the Enugu State Ministry of Health and the Enugu State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ENSACA) in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Ilori commended Governor Peter Mbah for revitalising primary healthcare facilities across the state, noting that the move is key to ensuring that no child is born with HIV.
“We want to ensure that pregnant women can access HIV testing and treatment in general and teaching hospitals, and that they receive lifesaving medications,” she said.
Ilori urged members of the newly inaugurated committee to collaborate effectively, stressing that HIV is a multi-sectoral challenge that requires a unified approach.
Earlier, Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, who chairs the 20-member committee, pledged that the group would work diligently to meet its objectives.
“Committees are a key tool we use to implement activities and provide oversight. We also establish technical working groups within these committees to drive processes,” Obi explained.
“This approach has proven effective in the past, and we are confident this new committee will achieve its goals.”
Obi also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening PMCT and paediatric HIV interventions for the benefit of mothers and children.
In his remarks, the State Team Lead for Caritas Nigeria, Dr. Fabian Bassey, praised the state government for its support in the health sector but stressed the need for more attention to the care and treatment of pregnant women and children.
“While adult HIV care has made progress, the next priority must be children—including unborn babies,” he said.
Bassey added that Caritas Nigeria, in partnership with the state government, plans to train traditional birth attendants and equip them with HIV testing kits to expand testing coverage among pregnant women.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Network of People Living with AIDS, Mrs. Lilian Agbo hailed the inauguration as a positive step forward.
She said the committee would help create effective interventions and give renewed hope to people living with the virus.
