Chidera Akalaonu
The Director, Clinical Services, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ekong, has said there was need for the Federal Government to invest more resources in research-oriented policies that could enable HIV vaccine development in Nigeria.
Ekong said this yesterday in Lagos at a media roundtable in commemoration of the HIV Vaccine Awareness Day marked annually on May 18 (today) .
The event was organised by the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society in collaboration with Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria.
Ekong, however, reasoned that although vaccines were needed, but since they take longer time to be prepared, we should not rush into its preparation and ignore the basic preventive messages of HIV.
“We have the resources to develop a vaccine, but we have more competitive needs than a vaccine.
“Drugs are much more needed, prevention messages are very important. What we must emphasise now is sensitising people about prevention and treatment while government encourages the various institutions on research.”
In the same vein, the Executive Director, Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), Mrs. Olayide Akanni, said for Nigeria, the engagement of the government is crucial and critical.
“Overtime, the HIV/AIDS virus has been with us over 30 years and till now, there has not been a vaccine that is being developed.
“The Awareness Day is just to promote awareness and to put the issues of HIV vaccine on the front burner.
“This is an opportunity to give a clarion call to challenge our government to begin to put in place the structures, enabling environment that will encourage vaccine research and development.
Olajide stated need to start implementing the developed roadmap.
According to her: “We need to conduct operational and implementation research that would address the potential barriers to HIV vaccine access in Nigeria.
“We need to promote community education and awareness about ongoing efforts in research field and start to promote community support for an HIV vaccine to be developed and / or tested in Nigeria in the future. We need to train our personnel, expose our scientists, researchers to best practices across the world.
“That is the reason for the day, to create awareness and hold government accountable and ask the right questions on where we are in the whole vaccine initiative.’’
The director further said there was need for the country to also step up on prevention method of HIV and make treatment available.
She said, “If we make treatment available, we get to a point where those who are receiving treatment will have an undetectable viral load.
“For those who are not affected, if we put in place mechanisms to ensure that they prevent HIV infections, it means the risk of getting it is reduced,” she stated.