AWKA/Nigeria: Anambra State has emerged as a leading contender for the pilot implementation of Nigeria’s National HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan for 2026–2030, following renewed collaboration between the state government, federal health authorities and international development partners aimed at strengthening grassroots prevention and response strategies.
The breakthrough came after a high-level advocacy and partnership meeting between the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, where Anambra’s preparedness and innovation-driven approach to HIV prevention reportedly earned national recognition.
Executive Director and Project Manager of ANSACA, Nkem Okeke, disclosed the development on Wednesday, explaining that the state’s selection was announced during a strategic visit to the NACA Secretariat in Abuja.
According to Okeke, the visit also formally introduced him as the new head of ANSACA and created an opportunity to reinforce technical cooperation, improve institutional coordination and align Anambra’s HIV response framework with national priorities.
He stated that the state government intends to intensify awareness campaigns, prevention initiatives and HIV testing services across communities in all local government areas, particularly targeting vulnerable and high-risk populations.
Okeke stressed that data-driven interventions and stronger community participation would remain central to efforts aimed at reducing new HIV infections and accelerating progress toward epidemic control in the state.
Responding, Director of Community Prevention and Care Services at NACA, James Anenih, commended Anambra State for what he described as a proactive and well-structured response strategy aligned with the country’s evolving HIV prevention agenda.
He said the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan for 2026–2030 was being formally presented to Anambra because of the state’s strategic readiness and commitment to innovative public health interventions.
Also speaking, Sam Anya of UNAIDS underscored the importance of a multisectoral response in tackling HIV/AIDS, noting that stronger collaboration between federal and state actors remained critical to achieving measurable impact.
Anya advocated greater synergy under the “One Strategy” framework and called for sustained partnerships involving government institutions, civil society organisations and development agencies to strengthen the national HIV response architecture.
