As Nigeria marks Children’s Day, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has renewed calls for a united front to protect the country’s youngest citizens from HIV, urging all stakeholders to intensify efforts toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission.
In a message issued Tuesday, NACA Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, stressed that the occasion should serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to guarantee every child a healthy start in life, free from HIV.
She emphasized that with the right interventions, no child should be born with the virus, saying, “Children’s Day is not just a celebration of childhood, but also a call to action.
“We owe it to our children to ensure that every pregnant woman has access to early HIV testing, treatment if necessary, and continuous care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.”
She reaffirmed that Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services remain one of the most effective tools in halting pediatric HIV, but stressed that greater commitment is needed at all levels, from the health system to the household.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in expanding PMTCT coverage, the NACA boss warned that thousands of infants are still born with HIV annually, an avoidable outcome largely driven by inadequate access to care and the persistence of stigma.
Ilori called on healthcare workers to uphold standards of quality and respectful care, while urging community and faith-based organizations to step up awareness efforts and dismantle stigma that discourages women from seeking life-saving services.
She also appealed directly to families and caregivers to support women in accessing treatment and adhering to care, saying that the journey to an HIV-free generation begins with informed and empowered communities.
“An HIV-free generation is within reach but we must act with compassion, urgency, and unity.
“Let us honour our children not only with celebration, but by protecting their right to be born healthy and free of HIV,” she said.
