The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has called on all stakeholders to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, in a renewed push to protect the health and future of Nigerian children.
In a statement marking Children’s Day 2025, NACA Director General Dr. Temitope Ilori emphasized that every child deserves a healthy, HIV-free start to life. She stressed the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent pediatric HIV infections, which are entirely preventable with proper care and intervention.
“Despite the progress we’ve made, thousands of children in Nigeria are still born with HIV each year. This is a tragedy we can prevent,” Dr. Ilori said.
She called on healthcare providers to deliver quality, respectful care to women and children, and urged community and faith-based organizations to ramp up awareness campaigns and fight stigma and discrimination, which continue to be major barriers to accessing care.
Families and caregivers were also encouraged to support women in accessing and adhering to HIV treatment, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when the risk of transmission is highest.
Ilori highlighted the importance of Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services, which she described as one of the most effective strategies for ending pediatric HIV.
While acknowledging the progress Nigeria has made in expanding PMTCT coverage, she noted that critical gaps remain, often worsened by social stigma and misinformation that discourage women from seeking life-saving services.
“Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV is not just a public health goal—it’s a moral imperative,” Ilori added. “Together, we can ensure that no child in Nigeria is born with HIV.”
NACA’s message serves as a reminder that safeguarding children’s health requires a multi-sectoral approach, involving government agencies, healthcare workers, communities, and families all working in unison to end pediatric HIV in Nigeria.
