The Federal Ministry of Health has announced its plans to identify about 600,000 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), positive persons, by December 2020.
The information was disclosed on Tuesday during the dissemination of laboratory performance evaluation of WONDFO HIV 1 and 2 Rapid Test Kit, held in Abuja.
In his keynote address, the National Coordinator NASCP, a Division of the Department of the Public Health, Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, noted that with a current data of 1.9 million HIV infected persons in Nigeria, and 1.1 million on Anti-retroviral therapy, (ART) it was important to meet a global 90-90-90 targets.
Ikpeazu, represented by Grace Bassey, National Coordinator and Head of Laboratory, said the target was to ensure that 90% of people, infected with HIV know their status; 90% of those who know their status receive ART and 90% of those on ART are virally suppressed.
“In order to meet that target for the first 90, we must have 1.71 million people who know their status which means we need to test and identify up to 600,000 HIV positive persons by December 2020 (Four months from now).
“Our second goal for the second 90 is to have 1.53 million PLWHIV (People Living With HIV) on ART by December 2020,” he said.
He explained that achieving that would call for appropriate laboratory diagnostic and support for clinical decision and monitoring the effectiveness and safety of the regimens remained, which was apparently pertinent.
He revealed that in 2019, the ministry of health approved the conduct of the laboratory performance evaluation of WONDFO HIV 1 and 2 Rapid Test Kit.
WONDFO HIV 1 and 2 Rapid Test Kit, as explained by the health ministry, has proven to fulfil all demands of the World Health Organisation for rapid testing of HIV 1 and 2.