The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) has urged State Agencies for the Control of AIDS (SACA) to mobilize domestic sponsorship to fund HIV responses within their regions.
During the National HIV Alignment Programme and Sustainability meeting with state Agencies for the Control of AIDS (SACA) on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr. Gambo Aliyu, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), stressed the urgency for states to mobilize domestic sponsorship to fund HIV responses within their territories.
The current donor fatigue experienced in the implementation of HIV/AIDS programs makes it crucial for NACA to bolster the capacities of state agencies to lead in their respective regions. The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have further emphasized the need for states to be better prepared for pandemic responses.
“The HIV and AIDS response delivery architecture, especially at the state levels for now, is heavily reliant on non-state actors/Implementing Partners with limited ownership by state government actors,” warned Dr. Aliyu.
To address this issue, Dr. Aliyu urged state coordinators to leverage the opportunities presented by the new administration to source domestic funds, emphasizing that political leaders’ engagement is pivotal in mobilizing adequate resources for HIV responses at the state level.
The meeting between NACA and SACA is focused on the National Alignment Program, which aims to strengthen collaboration among the Global Fund-PEPFAR, the Government of Nigeria, and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective HIV service coverage.
“We can all agree that achieving the 2030 targets requires us to do more and plan better HIV responses by taking deliberate steps to ensure effective coordination, ensuring no one is left behind. We are also to provide leadership that responds to the National HIV Sustainability Agenda that addresses all forms of inequalities to ending AIDS by 2030,” Dr. Aliyu stated.