Nigeria’s Oluremi Tinubu, has launched a national push to eliminate HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis by the year 2030 through the “Free to Shine” campaign—a continental initiative of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in partnership with the African Union. The campaign targets the elimination of mother-to-child transmission, the expansion of treatment coverage, and the end of stigma surrounding the diseases.
During the flag-off events held in different states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—including Kwara, Kaduna, Delta, Ondo, Taraba, and Enugu—Mrs. Tinubu called on traditional and faith-based leaders, youth groups, healthcare workers, and civil society to join hands in achieving this ambitious goal.
“No child should be born with HIV in Nigeria. No mother should lose her life to preventable infections like syphilis or hepatitis. And no citizen should suffer in silence due to stigma or lack of access to care,” she declared.
A heavy burden
Nigeria bears the highest HIV burden in West and Central Africa, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV. The national prevalence rate among adults aged 15–49 is approximately 1.3%. Despite progress over the past decade, the country continues to record tens of thousands of new infections annually—particularly among women, young people, and vulnerable populations.
In 2023 alone, an estimated 75,000 people were newly infected, including over 22,000 children under the age of 15. AIDS-related deaths in the same year numbered over 50,000, underscoring the persistent public health challenge.
Falling short on global targets
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of all people living with HIV should know their status; 95% of those diagnosed should be on sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART); and 95% of those on treatment should achieve viral suppression by 2030.
Nigeria has made strides but still lags behind these global benchmarks. By the end of 2023:
About 85% of people living with HIV knew their status.
85% of those diagnosed were on ART.
Only around 82% of those on treatment had achieved viral suppression.
The country also faces a crisis in pediatric HIV care. Fewer than one-third of children living with HIV in Nigeria are receiving treatment—one of the lowest coverage rates globally. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services reach only about 30–35% of eligible pregnant women, leaving thousands of infants at risk.
Fighting stigma, reaching the marginalized
The Free to Shine campaign prioritizes community engagement to tackle deeply rooted stigma and discrimination, which often prevent people—especially in rural areas and conservative communities—from seeking testing or treatment.
First Lady Tinubu has held consultative forums with religious and traditional leaders, encouraging them to use their influence to promote awareness and compassion rather than judgment.
“We must change the narrative,” she said. “Faith leaders, traditional rulers, and youth influencers have a powerful role to play in normalizing conversations around HIV, ensuring that those affected are treated with dignity and not shame.”
Support and partnerships
The campaign is supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and key partners including the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), UNAIDS, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. Local non-governmental organizations and state governments are collaborating to distribute testing kits, provide maternal care, and roll out antiretroviral medications to underserved communities.
As part of the broader effort, the First Lady’s “Renewed Hope Initiative” has distributed over 60,000 branded uniforms and footwear to midwives and health workers across Nigeria to enhance morale and professionalism.
Challenges ahead
While international support—especially from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund—has sustained Nigeria’s HIV response, funding gaps remain. Recently, reduced donor commitments have threatened programs for HIV prevention among key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people who inject drugs.
Additionally, legal and social barriers continue to limit access to care for many groups, especially in states where conservative laws criminalize certain behaviors or identities.
Looking forward
To meet the 2030 goal, health experts say Nigeria must:
Close the pediatric HIV treatment gap.
Expand PMTCT coverage to at least 95% of pregnant women.
Increase domestic financing for HIV programs.
Invest in youth-led education and digital health tools.
Remove legal and policy barriers affecting key populations.
Mrs. Tinubu’s campaign, which concludes its national rollout in the second half of 2025, signals a renewed political commitment to ending HIV as a public health threat in Nigeria.
“We are not just launching a campaign,” she said. “We are launching hope—for our children, our mothers, and the future of our great nation.”
By Anna Moses in Minna with additional agency reports
