Mr Michel Sidibe, Executive Director, UNAIDS and Under Secretary General of UN, has arrived in Nigeria for a three-day official visit to adopt new strategy that would end AIDS epidemic in Nigeria by 2030.
A statement by Mr Charles Martins-Jjuuko, Global Media and outreach officer, UNAIDS, said Sidibe’s visit is to enable him to discuss with top Nigerian government officials how to fast track HIV/AIDS response that could end AIDS by 2030.
It added that the UNAIDS boss would also hold discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari on the upcoming high level meeting on June 8 to 9 in New York, USA.
“We want President Buhari to actively participate in the development of the 2016 Political Declaration on AIDS,’’ the statement said.
Moreover, the UNAIDS executive director will interact with the ministers of Budget and National Planning, Finance, Health, Women Affairs as well as Federal Capital Territory.
“He will also interact with civil society organisations and partners in Abuja, Lagos and Otta, Ogun states,’’ it added.
NAN reports that Sidibe will interact with stakeholders and discuss the urgent need to enhance AIDS response.
The discussions between the two leaders will rally around how Nigeria can fulfil its obligation in terms of putting more domestic resources to complement the external resources coming from foreign donors.
-NAN