OLUREMI TINUBU LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE HIV, SYPHILIS IN SOUTH-WEST ‎

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‎Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Free To Shine Triple Elimination Campaign in the South-West region, encouraging young Nigerians to actively engage in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis.

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‎In a statement released on Friday by her Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, it was noted that the campaign was inaugurated in Akure, Ondo State, making the South-West the fifth geopolitical zone to adopt the national initiative aimed at eradicating mother-to-child transmission of the three diseases by 2030.

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‎Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu highlighted the vital role of youth involvement and stressed the need to eliminate the stigma associated with these health conditions.

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‎“To our dear children and youth, this campaign cannot succeed without your involvement. You represent our future generation; however, your age group is one of the most vulnerable. Please take care and protect yourselves,” she said.

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‎She commended individuals living with HIV/AIDS for sharing their stories.

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‎She said, “Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of resilience and hope, inspiring others living with HIV/AIDS to seek the support and treatment they deserve with courage and confidence.”

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‎The First Lady also highlighted the critical role of traditional and faith-based institutions in fighting stigma and improving access to testing and care.

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‎“We must deepen engagement with traditional and faith-based institutions to address cultural and religious influences on HIV prevention behaviours,” she said.

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‎She also expressed appreciation to health workers, national health bodies, and international partners for their continued efforts.

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‎“I thank all our health workers, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP)… WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, PEPFAR and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) amongst others,” she stated.

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‎In his remarks, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, assured stakeholders of the state’s commitment to re-evaluating healthcare funding priorities.

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‎“Ondo will review its budget to tackle the realities of healthcare funding as it affects the three diseases,” he said.

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‎Also speaking, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced ongoing efforts to provide subsidized medical tests and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

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‎“The request for free or heavily subsidized liver and kidney function tests… is already getting the Federal Government’s attention,” he stated.

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‎The event included a spoken-word performance by Oluwatomilayo, aimed at encouraging positive lifestyle habits among young people.

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‎The statement noted that the artistic display helped set the stage for the official launch of the campaign by the First Lady.

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