By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
A Faith Based Action for Treatment of Epidemic Response, FBAPTER, under the auspices of the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS, in Nigeria, CISHAN has disclosed that at least 80,000 Nigerian children with HIV are missing testing and treatment opportunities as the Federal Government is not even aware that such children exist. This was revealed by the Project Director of the NGO, Mr Emeka Anoje in a webinar Media conference on accelerating of HIV Self Testing in Nigeria with the theme, ” The Role of Professional Association”. According to Anoje, authoritative surveys has shown that there is still an estimated 80,000 children living with HIV in Nigeria who are yet to be found. This he said was also gathered from similar information from different HIV treatment programmes in supposed by donors. He noted that the NGO is working in tandem with other related bodies in the nation in states like Niger, Rivers, Delta, Nasarrawa, FCT amongst others to carry out HIV Self Testing programmes. Anoje explained that the objective of HIV testing as promised by the NGO allowed an individual , or anybody to collect his or her own specimen, typically an all fluid and performs an HIV test in the comfort of their homes I anywhere else. And then interpret the result either alone or with somebody that they trust and there receive information on how to act based on the result, whether positive or negative.” Executive Secretary of Delta State Agency for Control of AIDS who was part of the webinar meeting said that the Delta State government is supportive by providing an enabling environment for partners to operate, adding that there is free treatment for under five children and maternal care for such people. “He however said that before now those living in the Riverine areas did not enjoy sure opportunity but gave the assurance that with the state network when government procures testing equipment it would be made available. FORSTA is funded by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC is working closely with the Nigerian Government to eliminate the barriers to HIV testing and treatment with a focus on children and persons.
