The Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, addresses the Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, and her team during the visit in Abuja today (Photos: NOA)
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in raising awareness and combating stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
This assurance was given by the Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, to the agency’s headquarters.
Welcoming the NACA delegation, the NOA boss emphasised the critical role of public sensitisation in addressing HIV/AIDS.
He acknowledged that while fear-based communication was once effective in tackling the epidemic, there is now a need to change the messaging approach to prevent stigma and misinformation.
He stressed that HIV/AIDS should be seen as a manageable health condition, similar to hypertension and diabetes, rather than a death sentence.
He encouraged NACA to take full advantage of NOA’s vast network to amplify its campaigns on HIV prevention, treatment, and the fight against discrimination.
Recognising the recent decline in international funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, particularly by the U.S. government, he urged NACA to explore innovative local strategies for sustainable intervention.
He assured the agency of the NOA’s unwavering support in achieving their shared goal of a well-informed and stigma-free society.
Ilori, on her part, acknowledged the NOA’s vital role in national development.
She noted her familiarity with the agency’s grassroots operations and stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration to enhance Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response.
She pointed out that while HIV/AIDS remains a public health concern, many people, particularly the youth, now underestimate its existence due to the success of treatment programmes that have reduced visible cases of full-blown AIDS.
Despite over two million Nigerians living with HIV, she warned that new infections continue to rise, especially among young people and children.
This, she said, underscores the urgency of improving public awareness and behavioural change communication to counter misinformation and promote prevention.
