By Milcah Tanimu
As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day today (Monday), Dr. Temitope Ilori, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), emphasized that no child should enter the world with HIV, particularly in an era marked by advanced technology and innovations.
In a press statement released on Sunday and signed by Toyin Aderibigbe, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol at the agency, Ilori stressed the significance of Children’s Day as a reminder of the preciousness of children and the nation’s obligation to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being.
She particularly underscored the urgency of addressing the transmission of HIV from mother to child, highlighting the agency’s commitment to the goal of preventing any child from being born with HIV.
“As we celebrate our children today, it’s imperative that we also vow to shield them from preventable ailments, including HIV. No child should commence life with the HIV burden when prevention is within our reach. Strengthening Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission services is pivotal in ensuring every child’s healthy upbringing,” Ilori emphasized.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s strides in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Ilori acknowledged that more efforts are needed. She reiterated NACA’s dedication to ensuring that every HIV-positive pregnant woman receives the necessary care and treatment to prevent transmission to her child.
“Our objective is crystal clear: to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. This necessitates the collective collaboration of government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and communities. By offering antiretroviral therapy to pregnant HIV-positive women, promoting safe childbirth practices, and advocating appropriate breastfeeding methods, we can safeguard our children from HIV,” she concluded.
