Nigeria to Apply Uganda's Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS

Plans are underway by Nigeria to tap the experience of Uganda in its fight against HIV/AIDS, Babatunde Osotimehin, chair of the National Action Committee on AIDS, said on Monday. Osotimehin said that NACA had started discussions with Ugandan officials, and he plans to visit in May to continue negotiations. Osotimehin said he discovered that Uganda's success so far hinged on political will and commitment from the highest level of government to fight the scourge. The war on HIV/AIDS can only be won when the "president, vice president, state governors, ministers and other top governmental functionaries were involved and committed to the battle," he said. Osotimehin added that Uganda was able to record a high level of success in its campaign because the country adopted a multi-sectoral approach, with education as its base. According to the Nigerian government, the HIV/AIDS rate of the most populous African country stands at 5.7 percent.

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