Oluremi Tinubu Flags Off National Campaign Against HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis in Delta
ASABA/Nigeria: Wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday, launched the national campaign for the elimination of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Senator Tinubu emphasized the need for robust advocacy to expand access to HIV testing services, comprehensive counseling, treatment, and care for individuals who test positive. She noted that the initiative, tagged the “Free to Shine Campaign,” is an advocacy project championed by the African Union, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), and global partners.
Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, the First Lady stressed the need to engage traditional and faith-based institutions to address cultural and religious influences on HIV prevention behaviors, especially in the digital era. She warned that Nigeria, having the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa due to its large population, faces significant challenges, particularly among children, youth, women, and marginalized groups.
“To complement the Free to Shine Campaign, I have decided to advocate for the triple elimination of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis by 2030,” Senator Tinubu stated. “The campaign is being implemented across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with the maiden launch in Kwara State for the North Central Zone on January 30, 2025, and the North West launch in Kaduna on February 25, 2025. Today, we are flagging off the South-South campaign in Delta State, and Taraba will be the next host for the North East zone.”
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she revealed that in 2024, over 100,000 children and nearly two million adults were living with HIV in Nigeria. She lamented that many infants born to HIV-positive mothers do not get tested early due to ignorance and lack of awareness, leading to preventable deaths.
“It is heartbreaking that just two years ago, 15,000 children under 14 lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses. These are not just numbers but represent futures cut short,” she said.
Senator Tinubu further pointed out that hepatitis and syphilis remain major public health threats in Nigeria, warning that untreated syphilis could lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, congenital abnormalities, and neonatal complications. She urged collective action to raise awareness, improve prevention strategies, and expand treatment access.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, commended the First Lady and OAFLAD for their commitment to tackling HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, particularly among women of reproductive age. He described the campaign as a major step in addressing gender-sensitive health concerns, in line with the Beijing Declaration of 1995.
“Data shows that women between 15 and 49 are twice as likely to live with HIV compared to men. Young women aged 20–24 years are three times more vulnerable to HIV than their male counterparts,” Governor Oborevwori noted. He attributed this disparity to gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, harmful traditional practices, and limited access to education and healthcare.
He assured that his administration would continue to empower women through its MORE agenda, ensuring they have the economic and social independence to make informed health decisions.
In her remarks, the wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, described the Free to Shine initiative as a critical intervention in reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. She pledged her support for the campaign and commended Senator Tinubu’s leadership in advocating for vulnerable groups.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, lauded the First Lady’s renewed focus on improving healthcare for Nigerian women and children. He reiterated that the elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis is essential to achieving a healthier nation.
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Gazali, also praised Nigeria’s efforts toward ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, acknowledging the First Lady’s contributions to the cause.
