Bukola Afeni
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced the 7th National Council on AIDS (NCA) Meeting, scheduled to hold this August in Lagos State.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr. Daniel Ndukwe.
The meeting, organized with support from the Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LSACA), will be held under the theme, “Advancing the National HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid.”
This high-level statutory meeting will convene stakeholders from government institutions, civil society, development partners, and affected communities to deliberate on sustainable strategies for HIV prevention, treatment, and control in Nigeria, particularly in response to evolving global aid dynamics.
Established under the NACA Act of 2006, the National Council on AIDS serves as the apex national coordinating body for the country’s multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS.
The 7th edition of the meeting will focus on reviewing progress, consolidating sustainability efforts, and setting the technical direction for the coming years.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Director-General of NACA and Chairman of the Council, Dr. Temitope Ilori, underscored the significance of this year’s session.
She noted that as international donor support continues to shift, Nigeria must take bold, proactive steps to ensure continued access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.
“As donor landscapes evolve, Nigeria must take bold steps to ensure that HIV prevention, treatment, and support remain accessible and resilient. The Council offers us a unified platform to chart that future,”Ilori said.
The meeting will feature discussions across three thematic areas: advancing the national HIV sustainability agenda within the context of changing donor policies, exploring multi-sectoral approaches to sustaining the fight against HIV and other developmental diseases, and strengthening sub-national structures to improve health system effectiveness.
In addition, stakeholders are invited to submit policy and implementation memoranda, which will be reviewed and may be adopted to shape Nigeria’s future HIV response.
The three-day event will include two days of technical sessions followed by a one-day council deliberation.
Proceedings will culminate in the release of a communique outlining the collective decisions and strategies moving forward.
A special gala night, hosted by the Lagos State Governor, will also be held to honour outstanding contributions and celebrate progress in the national HIV response.
The statement further revealed that, the 7th NCA will also serve as a vital coordination platform for stakeholders from across related sectors, including tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive health, and health systems strengthening. It will bring together representatives from civil society organizations, faith-based groups, donor agencies, and implementing partners to align efforts under a unified national sustainability agenda.
Delegates are expected from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. They include Heads of State Agencies for the Control of AIDS (SACAs), State Commissioners for Health, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, NACA directors, officials from sister agencies, and representatives of patient communities, civil society, and donor organizations.
