The Director-General of the Abia State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ABSACA), Dr. Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu has said that Nigeria is intensifying efforts to begin manufacturing its own antiretroviral (ARV) drugs by 2026.
She disclosed this during an interview to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day which holds every December 1st.
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu noted that despite over 40 years of global HIV response, the world continues to push for a vaccine while strengthening prevention and treatment strategies. She highlighted that this year’s global theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” has been localized by Nigeria as “Overcoming Disruptions, Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”
She commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enock Ogbunnaya, for their support, adding that ABSACA’s integration into the Ministry of Health has enhanced coordination and boosted the state’s HIV response.
The DG explained that dwindling donor funding made worse by global economic challenges and donor fatigue has created disruptions in HIV financing. She recalled that the freeze on U.S. PEPFAR funds earlier in the year triggered panic and underscored Nigeria’s need to strengthen domestic funding mechanisms.
Despite the challenges, she noted that PEPFAR has sustained uninterrupted supply of HIV drugs, allowing Nigeria to maintain the “test and treat” protocol with no treatment disruptions.
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu outlined the multi-pronged HIV response strategy, stressing prevention, testing, treatment, care, and support. Key populations including people who inject drugs, sex workers, inmates, and adolescent girls remain priority groups for targeted interventions.
She emphasized the importance of HIV testing as the foundation of achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target by 2030. According to the DG, individuals are encouraged to test regularly, including through self-test kits now available in pharmacies.
On Abia’s HIV statistics, she noted that the state currently uses data from the 2018 NAIIS survey, which pegs national prevalence at 1.4% and Abia at 2.1%. She clarified that while over 50,000 people receive treatment in Abia, many of them come from neighbouring states due to stigma in their home communities.
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu also highlighted innovations in prevention technologies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). She stressed that no child should be born with HIV, urging pregnant women to attend antenatal care where HIV testing and PMTCT services are free.
She further revealed that Nigeria has already engaged local pharmaceutical companies to commence production of ARVs, with a national target to roll out Nigeria-made HIV drugs by 2026.
To sustain HIV response, she advocated new funding models, including state-level trust funds, political buy-in, leveraging constituency projects, and integrating HIV services across all health facilities.
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu applauded Abia’s progress, including the newly passed anti-stigma law, championed by the First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti. The law provides penalties for individuals or institutions that discriminate against persons living with HIV.
As part of the World AIDS Day activities, ABSACA is conducting community sensitization, church outreach, rallies, jingles, and media engagements across the 17 LGAs.
She concluded by reminding the public that HIV is no longer a death sentence but a chronic condition that can be effectively managed with consistent treatment. She urged residents to know their status, avoid risky behaviors, prevent stigma, and protect children from mother-to-child transmission.
“Prevention is better than cure,” she said. “With collective effort, we can sustain the gains already made and continue reducing the burden of HIV in Abia and across Nigeria.”
