By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
With an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, an 87–98–95 achievement on global treatment targets, and a 46 per cent decline in new infections over the past decade, Nigeria’s HIV response ranks among the country’s most significant public health successes yet one now facing renewed pressure from funding uncertainties and persistent social challenges.
Against this backdrop, Safe-Revive Africa (SRA), on Monday, 1 December, 2025, joined the global community to commemorate World AIDS Day, calling for sustained political commitment, increased domestic investment, and stronger community engagement to protect hard-won gains and keep Nigeria on course to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Observed under the theme “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” the commemoration highlighted growing concerns over uncertainties in international donor funding.
According to SRA, while external support has played a critical role in Nigeria’s HIV response, recent disruptions have exposed structural vulnerabilities that must be addressed through a more resilient, domestically driven framework.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s progress has been built on years of coordinated effort. It attributed these gains to the dedication of healthcare workers, sustained government leadership, the work of civil society organisations, and the resilience of people living with HIV.
“Collectively, these efforts have helped reposition HIV from a fatal diagnosis to a manageable chronic condition for millions across the country,” the group noted.
As part of activities marking the day, Safe-Revive Africa hosted its fourth Sensitization Forum on HIV/AIDS for Community Workers in Lagos. The forum brought together frontline community workers widely regarded as the backbone of the HIV response to strengthen their capacity in prevention, testing, treatment adherence, and community advocacy. Through interactive sessions, participants examined practical strategies for addressing misinformation and improving service uptake at the grassroots level.
In its World AIDS Day statement, SRA outlined three priority areas requiring urgent attention to sustain Nigeria’s momentum.
First, the organisation called for accelerated domestic resource mobilisation, commending the Federal Government’s $200 million intervention while urging that funding be sustained and scaled.
According to SRA, predictable domestic financing is essential as Nigeria gradually transitions away from donor dependence toward long-term self-reliance.
SRA also underscored the need to eliminate stigma and discrimination, which it identified as enduring barriers to HIV testing and treatment. Although advances in medicine have significantly improved health outcomes, fear and social exclusion continue to discourage many Nigerians from seeking care.
The organisation urged community leaders, religious institutions, and traditional authorities to promote acceptance, inclusion, and dignity for people living with HIV.
The organisation also emphasized the importance of leveraging innovation in prevention and treatment. Emerging tools, including long-acting injectable medications, were described as promising interventions capable of reducing new infections.
Reaffirming its mandate, Safe-Revive Africa said it remains committed to health education, community mobilisation, and capacity building nationwide. Through sustained sensitization forums and grassroots engagement, the organisation aims to empower communities to take ownership of the HIV response while strengthening broader public health outcomes.
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World AIDS Day 2025, SRA called for reflection on lives lost, recognition of progress achieved, and renewed determination to finish the task ahead.
According to the organisation, meeting the 2030 HIV elimination targe will depend on sustained investment, innovation, and collective national resolve.
Safe-Revive Africa (SRA) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing health and education across African communities, with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment support, and community empowerment.
