Mary Boyd, the Director of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), expressed confidence that Nigeria could end HIV as a public health concern by 2030.
Boyd made this statement at the conclusion of the fourth biannual stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC in Abuja.
She stressed the scientific advancements made in Nigeria through various partners, aiming to reach “zero-dose children” and enhance Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to diseases.
The discussions focused on enhancing health outcomes and attaining HIV epidemic control at the subnational level, fostering positive outcomes about Nigeria’s efforts in disease control.
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The U.S. CDC director thanked participants and stakeholders for their willingness to “ask questions and follow the science.”
The event also featured honouring select presenters and projects for their scientific contributions, which Salma Anas, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on health, carried out.
The meeting also provided a platform for state HIV programmes and partners to share their scientific work.
Speakers highlighted the vital role that state ministries of health play in achieving sustainable outbreak responses, immunisation systems, and HIV programmes.
The presentations and panels focused on strengthening collaborations for effective public health programmes.
Thirty-five posters and nine oral abstracts were presented, highlighting the importance of evidence-based program design and implementation.
The next stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC will be held later in October.
