The Enugu State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ENSACA) has joined the global community in marking World AIDS Day 2025, themed “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS Response.” At this year’s event, the agency outlined three core strategic pillars aimed at overcoming service disruptions and reducing the state’s HIV/AIDS prevalence to below 1 percent.
Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary of ENSACA, Dr. Emeh Rita, commended health professionals for earning public trust by disseminating quality and authentic HIV information to adolescents. She called for increased involvement of health workers in schools, markets, and community outreach programmes. She also highlighted the vital role of teachers, religious leaders, and parents in HIV sensitization, commending their efforts, and emphasized the growing influence of social media in public health education, urging health workers to use digital platforms more effectively to share credible HIV information.
Dr. Emeh expressed gratitude to the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whom she described as “the most innovative, proactive, and pragmatic governor in the country.” She thanked him for supporting the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration and for his ongoing commitment to combating HIV and AIDS in the state. She also acknowledged individuals and agencies for their material and financial support, including line ministries, various HIV networks, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.
She noted that although Enugu State has made significant progress over the years in reducing new HIV infections, expanding treatment access, and curbing stigma and discrimination, these gains have been affected by global and national challenges such as COVID-19 disruptions, economic instability, insecurity, and health system limitations. These challenges, she said, slowed testing and community outreach and disrupted the supply chain for life-saving antiretroviral drugs.
ENSACA’s Three Strategic Pillars
To address these disruptions, Dr. Emeh outlined ENSACA’s strategy anchored on strengthened partnership and collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, and communities; data-driven and technology-supported programming with digital innovations for real-time reporting, adherence tracking, and targeted outreach; and deepened investment in sustainability and local ownership, with state and community systems taking primary responsibility for results.
She stated, “ENSACA will work closely with the State government on domestic funding, strengthen supply chains, and build workforce capacity for continuity and resilience. We will also engender youth engagement and gender-sensitive approaches, recognizing that young people are drivers of both prevention and leadership in sustaining the response.”
GOVERNOR MBAH REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ENDING HIV/AIDS
Governor Mbah, represented by the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, praised ENSACA for its dedication to combating HIV/AIDS and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing the state’s HIV prevalence.
“From the discussions and presentations by experts, we’ve seen that Enugu State has an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.1 percent, which is lower than the South East’s 2.9 percent. The government is committed to working with ENSACA and the State Ministry of Health to reduce this to less than 1 percent as soon as possible,” he said.
He highlighted the state government’s support in sensitization, counselling, and testing, noting that in the days leading up to World AIDS Day, government agencies and development partners conducted awareness campaigns in major junctions and markets across Enugu. According to him, “We’re stressing the importance of testing so people can know their status and live healthy lives. Everything needed is being done, and we are succeeding thanks to teamwork with the state government.”
He also emphasized ongoing healthcare reforms. “We’re modernizing our healthcare infrastructure, including Primary and Secondary Healthcare Centers. So far, 260 brand-new Type II hospitals have been initiated, with many completed, commissioned, and others nearing completion. HIV testing and counselling services will be available in these centers across all wards in Enugu State, which will help us expand care and lower HIV prevalence,” he added.
STAKEHOLDERS PRAISE ENSACA’S IMPACT
Other distinguished speakers included the wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, represented by Mrs. Chinyere Ugwu, wife of the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly; Mr. Okafor, Coordinator NEHPWHAN; and Rev. Victor Nvene. They all commended ENSACA for its reinvigorated fight against HIV escalation in the state, its massive awareness campaigns and sensitization efforts, its school-to-school and community-to-community HIV education and testing initiatives, and praised Dr. Emeh Rita for her remarkable impact within a short time as Executive Secretary.
DIGNITARIES IN ATTENDANCE
The event was graced by several notable figures, including the Commissioner for Lands Enugu State, Barr. Chimaobi Patrick Okorie, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., the former Commissioner for Health Enugu State, Professor Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu, the Chairman ENSIEC, Professor Chris Chimdubem, Professor Polycarp Agu, Professor Idoko Chinedu Arthur, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Sunday Okafor, the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nwakaego Ajah PhD, Member 3 ENSUBEB, the former PDP Woman Leader, Hon. Peace Patrick, and other esteemed leaders.
SIDE ATTRACTIONS
The event featured free HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, a debate competition involving students from College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, Queens College Enugu, and Anglican Girls Secondary School Awkunanaw, as well as drama performances, cultural displays by the Enugu Cultural Troupe, and presentations by Ụmụada Peter Mbah.
Indeed, Our Tomorrow Is Here.