NHVMAS launches Leaving No Nigerian Behind (LeNNiB) campaign

The new HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) has launched the Leaving No Nigerian Behind (LeNNiB) campaign. 

According to the Group, "As you are aware, there is a global sense of urgency to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. Leading to this is the need to reach the 90-90-90 target by 2020.

One of the slogans is ensure that no one is left behind in the HIV response. However we community advocates are deeply concerned that Nigeria may be left behind the drive to end the global HIV epidemic. We as community members therefore, out of a deep sense of responsibility to ourselves, identify the strong need to push for all stakeholders to be accountability for the progress we make toward the 2020 and 2030 global targets.

Currently, we have about 3.4 million people living with HIV infection, 210,000 new infections annually, less than 10 million people taking a HIV test annually, only 30% PMTCT coverage, and less than 30% treatment coverage. There is also a decline in condom use, an increase in the number of adolescents with HIV infections including those newly infected with HIV as adolescents due to high sexual risk behaviour for HIV infection, and a whole lot more.

Yet Nigeria is one of the largest recipient of donor funds for its HIV response programmes. 

The new HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) shall be leading the Leaving No Nigerian Behind (LeNNiB) campaign leading up to 2020 and 2030. We shall work with partners nationally, regionally and internationally to demand that all respective actors in the HIV field, including we community actors as well, become more accountable to the HIV response. As a community, we shall develop an advocacy campaign making it very clear what our demands. These will clearly focus on targets jointly defined by stakeholders on what we want to do and how we plan to reach the 2020 and 2030 goals. We shall be holding stakeholders accountable for impacts in the both the HIV prevention and treatment landscape.

We are grateful for the little steps but we demand more.