The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has embarked on a collaboration with faith-based institutions such as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to extend HIV services to their adherents.
During the National Faith-based Coordination Meeting by NACA, with the theme: “Strengthening Faith-based HIV/AIDS Response in Nigeria,” the Director-General of NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu, who was represented by the Acting Head of the Department of Policy, Planning and Coordination at the Agency, Dr Effiong Eno said: “We are here for faith-based coordination meeting; an initiative of NACA, UNAIDS and PEPFAR. The idea is to strengthen faith-based entities to provide HIV/AIDS services in the country across the various spectrum of service delivery.
“Nigeria is unique. Even in the midst of COVID-19, we surpassed every country in the world to provide services to our clients – the patient community in Nigeria.
“Religious institutions have the best structures ever. Churches and mosques have been around for more than 1,000 years, and have been delivering their own kind of services.”
Responding, Sheik Abubakar Sidiqq of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said a lot has been achieved over the last three years despite the COVID-19 pandemic that halted activities for almost one year. NSCIA has provided space for the secretariat, especially for the technical working group since the beginning of 2019.”
The General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Barrister Daramola Joseph Bade said: “The silence of a disease should not be taken as the absence of it. I call for synergy amongFaith-based organisations and health agencies, through a response coordination meeting such as this; as it will facilitate an efficient collaboration towards meeting the goal of eradicating this scourge by 2030.”
