HIV/AIDS patients to receive free treatment by 2015 – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that by 2015, 80 percent of the people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria will have free access to life-saving treatment.

He said this on Saturday at an event to commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President urged stakeholders present at the special session on resource mobilization for the fight against HIV/AIDS, to be committed to meeting the nation’s target of zero infection and zero death from the epidemic.

Jonathan who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, noted that to win the war against the killer-disease, huge funding was required.

He stressed that “the present administration recognizes the task ahead and assure that immense progress is being made in agreement with donor partners and other stakeholders,” adding that “the task is enormous, but not impossible”

The President promised that his government was working towards ensuring that 50 percent of the yearly budget for health would go for HIV interventions by the year 2015, against the current 25 percent.

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