The United States (U.S) government has donated about $90 million towards the country’s planned HIV survey, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said.
The survey tagged Nigeria Aids Indicators and Impact Survey (NAIIS) is the largest in the world and Nigeria is the 12th country conducting this survey.
A tripartite signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Health Minister and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, was done yesterday in Abuja.
The survey, which will begin in June, will last for about six months and cover the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aims to reach a sample size of about 170,000 people.
Adewole said the US government had directly supported the survey with about $90million and indirectly, through other partners.
He said “The resources for the survey are largely from the US government. Directly they are giving us about $90million and indirectly they are working with other partners to ensure the success of the survey.”
Speaking on the importance of the survey, Adewole said, “The survey will put behind us the concept of making guess work in terms of burden of HIV disease in Nigeria. We do not know how many people are infected, so this study will enable us get a precise number.
“This survey is not only about HIV, but about hepatitis B and C. This survey will also help us to drive forward the agenda to cure Nigeria of hepatitis C. As you know, hepatitis C now has a cure.
“Also, people who test positive will be placed on treatment, as having HIV is not the end of the world,” he said.
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