As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day 2025, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has renewed calls for collective action to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, describing it as a critical step in safeguarding the health and future of Nigerian children.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Director General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, the agency emphasized that every Nigerian child deserves a healthy start in life.
Dr. Ilori highlighted that despite notable progress in recent years, thousands of children in Nigeria are still being born with HIV—a situation she described as a preventable tragedy.
“Children’s Day is a reminder that we must do everything within our power to protect the next generation,” Ilori stated.
She explained that achieving this goal requires ensuring that all pregnant women are tested early for HIV, and those who test positive must be immediately placed on treatment and receive continuous care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Dr. Ilori acknowledged the significant strides Nigeria has made in expanding Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.
However, she pointed out that gaps still exist, often worsened by societal stigma and discrimination that discourage many women from accessing necessary healthcare services. She described PMTCT services as one of the most effective strategies in ending paediatric HIV and ensuring that no child is born with the virus.
On this Children’s Day, NACA is calling on healthcare providers to deliver quality and respectful care to women and children. It also urges community leaders, faith-based organizations, families, and caregivers to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and support HIV-positive women in accessing and adhering to treatment.
“An HIV-free generation is possible, but only if we act with urgency and compassion,” Ilori said. “Together, let’s celebrate our children by protecting their right to be born free of HIV.”
This renewed commitment aligns with the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign launched earlier this year by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The initiative, backed by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), was inaugurated in the North-West zone in Kaduna in February.
Speaking during the launch, Senator Tinubu underscored the importance of reducing new HIV infections among women of reproductive age and preventing mother-to-child transmission.
She expressed concern over Nigeria’s heavy HIV burden, noting that the country still holds the highest number of HIV cases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the First Lady, data from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare shows that over 100,000 children and nearly two million adults were living with HIV in Nigeria as of 2024.
She further lamented that most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not tested within the first two months of birth, largely due to lack of awareness or understanding of the health risks involved.
Senator Tinubu stated that the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign seeks not only to prevent HIV transmission but also to ensure that children living with the virus receive the necessary support and treatment to lead healthy lives.
As the nation celebrates its young citizens, both NACA and the First Lady’s campaign have called for a united front against paediatric HIV.
The message is clear: protecting children begins with empowering mothers and ensuring no child is left behind in the fight against HIV.