Nigeria’s HIV response strategy will undergo critical review as health leaders gather for the 7th National Council on AIDS (NCA) meeting from August 5-7, 2025, at Lagos’ Landmark Centre. The conference, jointly hosted by the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) and Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), comes amid declining international HIV funding and shifting global health priorities.
Under the Theme, “Advancing National HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid,” the council will focus on developing self-sustaining solutions for Nigeria’s HIV program. LSACA Chief Executive Folakemi Animashaun emphasized the urgent need for strategic realignment during a pre-conference briefing.
“We must recalibrate our strategies to ensure continuity of care as donor support reduces,” she stated, highlighting the importance of creating sustainable, people-centered approaches to maintain Nigeria’s HIV response.
The high-level meeting will bring together policymakers, researchers, healthcare providers and civil society representatives to evaluate current HIV treatment and prevention programs.
Key discussions will explore innovative domestic financing models to replace dwindling international aid, while strengthening partnerships between government agencies and private sector stakeholders. Participants will also examine how to align Nigeria’s HIV response with evolving global health standards.
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Lagos State’s successful HIV innovation programs under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration will be presented as potential models for nationwide adaptation. Nigeria currently has about 1.8 million people living with HIV, with 1.6 million receiving antiretroviral therapy according to 2024 NACA estimates.
The council’s outcomes are expected to shape Nigeria’s HIV roadmap for the next five years, with particular focus on sustaining treatment access and expanding prevention services despite financial constraints.
The meeting represents a crucial opportunity to develop homegrown solutions that will ensure Nigeria’s HIV response remains effective as global funding priorities shift. Health officials aim to establish a more resilient system that can maintain progress toward epidemic control while addressing emerging challenges in HIV prevention and treatment.
