By Wumi Tewogbade, ABUJA

The World Health Organization (WHO), at the weekend revealed that 21.7 million people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) now receive lifesaving antiretroviral therapy.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, stated this in his message to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS day, in Abuja.

He said it is imperative for African countries to increase domestic investment and innovative financing and also address the challenges of stigmatization, misinformation and discrimination.

The WHO boss commended the fact that in the region, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have each fallen by more than half since 2010.

He also announced that HIV prevention medicines is now avaible and can be taken twice a year.

According to Janabi, “Over the past decade, the African Region has made remarkable gains. New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have each fallen by more than half since 2010. A total of 21.7 million people living with HIV now receive lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. Community-led testing, differentiated care and integration with primary health services are transforming how care is delivered.

“This year’s theme, Overcoming Disruption: Transforming the AIDS Response, challenges us to redefine our response to an unprecedented HIV funding landscape that is threatening decades of progress. These pullbacks make it more urgent than ever to safeguard the gains, and protect lives.

“Yet, this reality also offers an opportunity to build a stronger, more self-reliant and more integrated response. Across Africa, countries are working to embed HIV services within primary health care systems, ensuring inclusive, people-centred care. Sustaining this progress means protecting the infrastructure that supports testing, treatment and prevention, while accelerating access to innovation.

“New tools, such as long-acting HIV prevention medicines like Lenacapavir, can transform lives, requiring only two injections a year. WHO commends South Africa for being the first African country to licence Lenacapavir for use to prevent HIV, and we hope more African countries will follow their lead”.

He noted, “Equally important is protecting trust in science. Misinformation can be as dangerous as service disruption. We must defend scientific freedom, promote evidence-based policies, and continue to support community and civil society leadership. During recent crises, youth networks across several countries used WhatsApp and local radio to share reliable information and encourage HIV treatment adherence. These are the partnerships that keep progress alive.

“In Botswana, the achievement of Gold Tier status for eliminating mother-to-child transmission shows what sustained commitment can deliver”.

He therefore encouraged African nations to act now to protect what has been achieved, and accelerate what remains unfinished.

He therefore appealed tm Member States and partners to, transform the HIV response into sustainable, locally-led systems, through increased domestic investment and innovative financing, rebuild momentum by strengthening health systems to deliver reliable, equitable HIV and other health services for all, restore trust by tackling stigma, misinformation and discrimination, and defending human rights for marginalized groups and confront inequality by prioritizing services for key populations, adolescent girls and young women, to ensure no one is left behind.

He also reiterated the committtment of WHO, to support countries and communities in transforming HIV services into resilient, inclusive and sustainable systems, especially through these changing times.

By Saint Mugaga

The Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to ending cervical cancer.

Prof. Adewole made the remarks while addressing reporters at the National Assembly on Monday ahead of activities marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.

Adewole, who was represented by the Director Cancer Prevention and Control, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Waziri, described the disease as a preventable tragedy that continues to claim thousands of lives.

The Task Force, he said, secured a ₦1 billion donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to support nationwide screening.

He said the Task Force recently constituted a national project implementation subcommittee chaired by Prof Okechukwu Ikpeze, the president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON).

“The committee has been mandated to plan a nationwide rollout of HPV testing across the 6 geopolitical zones, using the N1 billion billion Naira donation from Her Excellency as seed funding. The beneficiary state’s commitment to counterpart funding to ensure sustainability is a prerequisite for selecting the 6 states for the pilot,” he said.

He said this year’s theme, ‘Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,’ reflects our commitment to expanding vaccination, screening, and treatment initiatives across the country.

He noted that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Nigerian women.

“In 2022, Nigeria recorded 14,089 new cases and 8,240 deaths, with a fatality rate of about 60 percent. Despite available vaccines and early detection methods, the disease remains a serious public health challenge,” he added.

Prof. Adewole highlighted Nigeria’s role on the global stage, saying, “In 2018, Nigeria was the only country to join WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the United Nations General Assembly to call for international collaboration to eliminate cervical cancer. This led to the launch of the global elimination strategy on November 17, 2020.”

He also explained the establishment of the NTF-CCE in 2024. “The Task Force is chaired by myself, with Prof. Sani Malami, former president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, as secretary, and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as vice chair,” Prof. Adewole said.

Prof. Adewole also outlined the launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN), which targets vaccinating 8 million adolescent girls and screening 8 million women annually.

“The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will lead vaccine delivery, while the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment oversees screening,” he said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s vaccination progress: “While only 6 million girls were vaccinated across Africa in 2022, Nigeria alone has vaccinated over 15 million girls in two years, tripling coverage on the continent.”

On today’s commemoration, Prof. Adewole said, “The National Assembly will be illuminated in teal, the international colour for cervical cancer awareness, to recognise the role of legislation in improving access to free screening in public health facilities.”

“Our goal is clear: to put Nigeria firmly on the path to cervical cancer elimination. With political support, public engagement, and effective implementation of vaccination and screening programs, we can prevent needless deaths and save lives,” Prof. Adewole said.

He urged collaboration with state governments, health agencies, and civil society to achieve the Task Force’s ambitious targets.

…….As It Warns Will it Kill More Africans Than HIV/AIDS, Malaria Combined

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, raised alarm at the rate at which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is killing more people in sub-Saharan Africa than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined, calling it a “silent pandemic” that threatens decades of global health progress.
This was contained in a statement issued by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, to commemorate the 2025 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), in Abuja.

“Antimicrobial Resistance is silently undermining decades of health progress. Medicines that once cured infections no longer work. AMR is everyone’s business,” Janabi warned.
“Doing nothing is not an option. AMR is here, and we must act now.”

Janabi revealed alarming statistics showing the continent bears the highest burden of drug-resistant infections:

1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 were directly caused by AMRwith sub-Saharan Africa recording the highest mortality.

Major killers include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, each responsible for more than 100,000 AMR-linked deaths.

In 2021 alone, an estimated 1.14 million AMR-related deaths occurred globally, again with Africa worst affected.

“This is not a far-off crisis; it is here now and causing significant morbidity and mortality in our region,” Janabi stressed.

According to the WHO chief, the inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals, poor water and sanitation systems, and limited diagnostic capacity are accelerating the spread of resistant infections across Africa’s 47 Member States.

He emphasized that education and awareness must underpin all AMR response efforts:

“Understanding AMR is key to catalysing positive behaviour change. Addressing the misuse of antimicrobials begins with strong education.”

Janabi highlighted ongoing efforts by African governments, supported by WHO and quadripartite partners (FAO, UNEP, WOAH, Africa CDC and AU-IBAR):

All 47 African countries now have multisectoral National Action Plans on AMR.

25 countries (53%) are using WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).

32 countries (68%) are implementing interventions to promote responsible antimicrobial use in communities and health facilities.

Over 220 officials from 20 countries have received leadership training to strengthen AMR governance and coordination.

“These gains show the power of accurate data, national commitment and cross-sector collaboration,” Janabi said.

Call to Governments, Health Workers, Communities and Youth

The WHO Regional Director issued a broad call to action:

For Governments:“Prioritize sustainable funding and translate commitments into domestic financing.”

For Health Professionals: “Prescribe responsibly and uphold infection prevention standards.”

For Environmental Regulators: “Reduce environmental contamination from antimicrobial waste.”

For Civil Society: “Be behaviour change champions, accountability watchdogs and equity advocates.”

For the Public: “Do not buy antibiotics on the streets. Do not self-medicate. Complete every prescribed dose.”

For Youth: “Use your voice, your platforms, your influence. Be the generation that preserves the power of antibiotics.”

Janabi warned that AMR is not just a medical problem but a multisectoral threat affecting agriculture, food security, economic development and the environment.

“Together, through One Health action, innovation and accountability, we can mitigate this silent pandemic and secure a healthier, safer future for Africa and the world.”