President Buhari addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke on the topic "Strengthening The Means of Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Ensuring an AIDS-free Generation By 2030 Through The Elimination Of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV. A Dual Imperative For Nigeria". Continue to see more photos + full text of President Buhari's address..
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I welcome you to this important event. Let me express
Nigeria's sincere appreciation to UN-AIDS for the support and
collaboration in organizing this event.
2. We are on the threshold of history as world leaders adopt
the successor development agenda to the Millennium
Development Goals. For over 30 years, HIV as a public health
challenge has been causing havoc and untold hardship in
virtually every part of the world. To date, several million
children have been orphaned and some communities have
been devastated, while economic activities have been
disrupted.
3. Unfortunately, Sub -Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate
burden of this epidemic. The good news is that the effort of
the global community has resulted in greater control, less
spread and better management.
4. Furthermore, we have made significant progress towards
the interception of mother to child transmission of HIV. In
2014 alone, over 3million pregnant women were tested for HIV
and 63,000 of these tested women, accessed anti - retroviral
therapy.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. What is required in our continued fight against HIV/AIDS is
improved health delivery system, education, and cheaper
production of anti - retroviral drugs through technology
exchange. Our countries should also look at the whole field of
medicare and strengthen our partnership with all stakeholders
including the civil society, inter- faith and cultural bodies for
education and dissemination of information at all levels.
Nigeria will also like to call upon all pharmaceutical
companies for more cooperation and understanding in
reducing the cost of anti - retroviral drugs through production
of generic items.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates.
6. Nigeria will continue to work with development partners
and key stakeholders to strengthen the means of
implementation of the SDGs as elaborated in the Post- 2015
Development Agenda. At the continental level, Nigeria remains
fully committed to the outcome of the Abuja process as
evident in the 2002 Declaration, the Action Framework on Roll
– Back Malaria. In addition, the 2013 Abuja + 12 Declaration
is a strong commitment towards eliminating HIV and AIDs in
Africa by 2030. Globally, the United Nations Political
Declaration on HIV and AIDS of 2011 is a major reference
point for intensifying efforts to eliminate the epidemic.
7. Nigeria appreciates the support of our development
partners for their support and commitment to the total
eradication of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as
other deadly communicable diseases, for example Ebola, when
an epidemic arises.
8. I therefore encourage you to continue in your efforts to
sustain the fight against infant and maternal deaths, HIV and
AIDs, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other communicable diseases,
high on the global development agenda.
9. Let us work together to make HIV and AIDs history by
2030.
10. I thank you.
Comments
Post a Comment