Senator Oluremi Tinubu Targets Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatits in South-West by 2030
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Free To Shine Triple Elimination Campaign in the South-West geopolitical zone, with a call to action for Nigerian youth to take proactive steps in combating HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis.
The campaign, which aims to achieve the global target of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the three diseases by 2030, was flagged off in Akure, Ondo State, marking the South-West as the fifth region in the country to join the national movement.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch, Senator Tinubu emphasized the importance of youth participation and the elimination of stigma surrounding the diseases.
“To our dear children and youth, this campaign cannot succeed without your involvement. You represent our future generation; however, your age group is one of the most vulnerable. Please take care and protect yourselves,” she said.
The First Lady commended individuals living with HIV/AIDS for sharing their stories, saying their experiences serve as a powerful reminder of resilience and hope, inspiring others to seek support and treatment with courage and confidence.
Senator Tinubu also highlighted the critical role of traditional and faith-based institutions in fighting stigma and improving access to testing and care. “We must deepen engagement with traditional and faith-based institutions to address cultural and religious influences on HIV prevention behaviors,” she said.
The event featured a spoken-word performance by Oluwatomilayo, promoting positive lifestyle choices among youth, and set the tone for the campaign’s official flag-off by the First Lady.
In his remarks, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, assured stakeholders of the state’s commitment to re-evaluating healthcare funding priorities. “Ondo will review its budget to tackle the realities of healthcare funding as it affects the three diseases,” he said.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced ongoing efforts to provide subsidized medical tests and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“The request for free or heavily subsidized liver and kidney function tests… is already getting the Federal Government’s attention,” he stated.
The First Lady expressed appreciation to health workers, national health bodies, and international partners for their continued efforts.
“I thank all our health workers, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP)… WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, PEPFAR, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) amongst others,” she said.
