NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY ON HIV/AIDS By Kenneth B. DAVID. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University

1. National HealthPolicy on HIV/AIDS
KASU, FPS

2. INTRODUCTION
 National Policy is a broad course of action adopted by the
Federal Government in pursuit of its objectives. National
policy is a policy to be implemented nationwide. Nigeria as
a country has the following National Policies:
 National Policy on Health
 National Policy on Education
 National Policy on Population
 National Policy on Agriculture
 National Policy on Medium, Small, and Medium enterprises
 National policy on food and Nutrition, etc

3. National Policy on Health
 The National Health Policy, promulgated in 1988, represents the collective
will of the governments and people of this country to provide a
comprehensive health care system that is based on primary healthcare. It
describes the goals, structure, strategy and policy direction of the health
care delivery system in Nigeria. It defines the roles and responsibilities of
the three tiers of government without neglecting the non-governmental
actors. Its long-term goal is to provide the entire population with
adequate access not only to primary health care but also to secondary and
tertiary services through a well-functioning referral system.

4. National Health Policies in Nigeria:
 National Health Policy (NHP) on HIV/AIDS
 The National Drug Policy
 NHP on Roll Back Malaria
 NHP on Immunization
 NHP on control of Onchocerciasis
 NHP on Control of Tuberculosis and Leprosy (TBL)
 NHP on Blood Transfusion
 National Policy on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
 NHP on Reproductive Health
 NHP on Adolescent Health

5. NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY ON HIV/AIDS
In 1997, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health, adopted the
National Policy on HIV/AIDS and STIs. This was designed to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.
 The National Policy on HIV/AIDS by the Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into four (4) parts, viz:
 PART I: Problem identification: Epidemiology, Impact, Response, and Problems of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
 PART II: Goals, Objectives, and Targets
 PART III: Policies and strategies
 PART IV: Program Development and Management

6. PART I: Problem identification: Epidemiology, Impact, Response, and Problems of
HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
 A. Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS:
 As of 2014 in Nigeria, the HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15-49 was
3.17 percent. About 34million people have HIV/AIDS world wide.
 Nigeria has the second-largest number of people living with HIV. The
HIV epidemic in Nigeria is complex and varies widely by region.
 Recently, it is estimated that about 3, 229, 757 people live with HIV in
Nigeria and about 220, 393 new HIV infections occurred in 2013 and
210,031 died from AIDS related cases.

7.  B. Impact of the Epidemic:
 Impact on Life expectancy: HIV/AIDS reduces the life expectancy of
those infected, from 53years in1990 to 51years in 2002
 Impact on health system: The additional care and support burden
associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic further weakens and threatens to
overwhelm the already weak Nigeria health system.
 Social impact: One major social effect on the society is the increasing
number of orphans generated by the epidemic. Many of Nigerians may go
without adequate health care and schooling, increasing the burden on the
society in future years.

8.  C. Response: Like many other developing countries, Nigeria has passed
through several phases in her response to the epidemic. The stages
included
 an initial period of denial;
 a largely medical response;
 a public health response; and
 now a multi-sectoral response that focuses on prevention, treatment and
impact mitigation interventions.

9.  D. Problems:
 Program implementation: HIV transmission through sexual
intercourse remains the most important mode of spread in Nigeria. The
mode remains the major source of transmission due to the:
 Commercial sex associations
 Early onset of sexual activity
 Ignorance amongst youth about HIV/AIDS and sexuality issues.
 Human rights: Stigma and discrimination shown to persons living with
and affected by HIV/AIDS worsens the spread and the impact of the
epidemic

10. PART II: Goals, objectives, and Targets
 Goal
 The overall goal of the HIV/AIDS Policy is to: control the spread of
HIV in Nigeria;
 provide equitable care and support for those infected by HIV; and
mitigate its
 impact to the point where it is no longer of public health, social and
economic
 concern, such that all Nigerians will be able to achieve socially end
economically productive lives free of the disease and its effects

11.  2 Objectives
 Objectives of the policy include:
 Fostering behaviour change as the main means of controlling the epidemic;
 improving national understanding and acceptance of the principle that all
persons must accept responsibility for prevention of HIV transmission and the
provision of care and support for those infected and affected;
 Providing access to cost-effective care and support for those infected, including
anti-retroviral drugs.
 Protect the rights of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS as guaranteed
under the constitution and laws of the Republic

12.  Develop standards and guidelines that lead to the institutionalization of
best practices to mitigate the impact of it.
 Empower people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through training,
counselling, and education to cope with their circumstances.
 Remove all possible barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

13.  Targets
 The following targets have been set to guide programme planning and
implementation:
 The main target of the HIV/AIDS policy is to achieve at least a 25% reduction on
the adult HIV/AIDS prevalence every five years.
 Reduce by 25% the percentage of persons openly expressing negative attitudes
about persons living with HIV/AIDS by 2005.
 Reduce the prevalence and incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in
Nigeria by 50% by 2010.
 Reduce the transmission of the HIV virus through mother-to-child-transmission
by 50% by the year 2010.
 Ensure the access to antiretroviral drugs in all states of the federation by 2010.

14. PART III: Policies and Strategies (Strategic Thrusts)
 The policies founded on the above stated principles and objectives focus on five strategic
components:
 Prevention of HIV/AIDS: Reduction of risk of transmission through promotion of safe sexual
behaviour, VCT, PMTCT, blood safety and early diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted
infections.
 Laws and Ethics: Review of existing legislation and enacting appropriate new laws for
protection of rights of those living with HIV and those susceptible and vulnerable to the disease.
 Care and Support: Provision of care and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
 Communication: Provision of comprehensive information, education and communication to
prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact.
 Programme management and Development: Setting up appropriate institutional frame
work at all levels of government, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation and
international partnership to enhance effective HIV/AIDS programme management.

15. PART IV: ProgramDevelopment andManagement
The following strategies will promote and enhance program management
and Development.
 Institutional framework for national, state, and Local statutory
organisations
 Resource mobilisation
 Monitoring and evaluation
 International partnerships.

16. 7.0 CONCLUSION
 It is expected that the successful implementation of this policy will bring
about the control of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
 It is hoped this will mitigate its impact to the point where it is no longer of
public health, social, and economic concern, such that all Nigerians will
be able to achieve socially and economically productive lies free of the
disease and its effects.

17. REFERENCES
 Federal Government of Nigeria: National Policy on HIV/AIDS, 2003
 FMOH Abuja, Revised National Health Policy, September, 2004
 Health Policy, retrieved from www.en.wikipedia.org/heath_policy on
Sunday, 18th June, 2017.