|
Nigeria to include HIV/AIDS in human development
Gloria Essien, New York
President Goodluck Jonathan has, on behalf of African leaders, pledged to further step up efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS in the continent.
The president made this known while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United states, on Wednesday.
He noted that the Abuja declaration of commitment to the reduction of HIV/AIDS in 2001 and the political follow-up in 2006 to wage a sustainable war on the disease had made the disease better understood and no longer looked at as an automatic death sentence.
Dr Jonathan also noted that despite successes recorded, there were still challenges to overcome.
“Notwithstanding these achievements, there are still challenges which pose barriers to universal access to services, some of which are stigmatization and discrimination,” Jonathan said.
The Nigerian president told the gathering that as part of efforts to rid the continent of the deadly disease, African leaders decided to dedicate fifteen per cent of their annual budgets to any effort aimed at reducing the scourge.
At the High-Level meeting, President Jonathan said: "my Administration is determined to provide new impetus to the HIV/AIDS response by integrating the health sector into our development agenda. From now until 2015, the government will lead and coordinate the multi-sectorial implementation of our National Strategic Framework and Plan for HIV/AIDS."
Insufficient funding
Jonathan noted that insufficient funding and non-redemption of pledges by external donors remained of great concern. He also identified prevention of the virus, stigmatisation and discrimination as huge challenges that must be overcome in the fight against the disease.
The President of the UN general Assembly, Mr. Joseph Diess, said that with the help of the UN, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has received serious attention which has helped in the reduction of casualties.
He noted that the efforts would be doubled for greater results.
The secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, appreciated the achievement recorded so far and called on all nations of the world to embrace the fight against the disease.
Mr Ban however appealled to Gays, drug users and sex traders to assist the society by dropping their habits, which he said was truncating the efforts of the agency.
The UN general Assembly focused on the reduction of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS and a target of 2015 has been set for it.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan flew to Washington where he held talks with President Barrack Obama of the USA on issues of mutual benefits to both Nigeria and the USA.
Williams |
