I welcome you to this important event. Let me express Nigeria’s sincere appreciation to
UNAIDS for the support and collaboration in organising this event.
We are on the threshold of history as world leaders adopt the successor
development agenda to the Millennium Development Goals. For over 30 years,
HIV as a public health challenge has been causing havoc and untold hardship in
virtually every part of the world. To date, several million
children have been orphaned and some communities have
been devastated, while economic activities have been disrupted.
Unfortunately, Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate
burden of this epidemic. The good news is that the effort of the
global community has resulted in greater control, less spread and better management.
Furthermore, we have made significant progress towards
the interception of mother to child transmission of HIV. In 2014 alone,
over three million pregnant women were tested for HIV and 63,000 of
these tested women, accessed antiretroviral therapy.
What is required in our continued fight against HIV/AIDS
is improved health delivery system, education, and cheaper production
of anti-retroviral drugs through technology exchange. Our countries should
also look at the whole field of medicare and strengthen our partnership with
all stakeholders including the civil society, interfaith and cultural bodies for
education and dissemination of information at all levels. Nigeria will also like
to call upon all pharmaceutical companies for more cooperation and
understanding in reducing the cost of antiretroviral drugs
through production of generic items.
Nigeria will continue to work with development partners and key
stakeholders to strengthen the means of implementation of the SDGs as
elaborated in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. At the continental level,
Nigeria remains fully committed to the outcome of the Abuja process as
evident in the 2002 Declaration, the Action Framework on Roll–Back Malaria.
In addition, the 2013 Abuja+12 Declaration is a strong commitment
towards eliminating HIV and AIDs in Africa by
2030. Globally, the United Nations Political Declaration on
HIV and AIDS of 2011 is a major reference point for
intensifying efforts to eliminate the epidemic.
Nigeria appreciates the support of our development partners for their
support and commitment to the total eradication of HIV/AIDs,
Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as other deadly
communicable diseases, for example Ebola, when an epidemic arises.
I therefore encourage you to continue in your efforts to sustain the
fight against infant and maternal deaths, HIV and AIDs, Tuberculosis,
Malaria and other communicable diseases, high on the global development agenda.
Let us work together to make HIV and AIDs history by 2030.
I thank you.
Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This Statement was originally titled
“Strengthening the Means of Implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goals and Ensuring an AIDS-Free Generation By 2030
through the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV: A Dual
Imperative for Nigeria” at the 70th United Nations General Assembly,
UN Hequarters, New York on September 25, 2015.
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