FAITHS JOURNEY SHOWS THAT LIVING WITH HIV IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE WHEN TREATMENT AND SUPPORT ARE AVAILABLE
For 38 year old Faith living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is not a death sentence. With strong counselling and consistent treatment she has been able to live a healthy productive life.
Faith, a business woman from Ajegunle in Lagos State discovered her status in 2023 through a free community testing program. She said she never imagined she could have HIV because she often treated malaria and other minor illnesses. When the result came out positive she was devastated but determined to keep living for her children and business.
Faith was immediately enrolled on treatment under the Accelerated Control for HIV Epidemic Cluster Six known as ACE6. With her regular antiretroviral therapy and medical support she now lives well and continues to manage her clothing business successfully.
Faith explained that she never misses her medication and goes for regular tests to monitor her CD4 count which helps doctors measure the strength of her immune system. She said her CD4 count has remained good and her doctor assured her that with proper care and discipline she can live a long and fulfilling life.
THE IMPACT OF ACE6 PROJECT IN LAGOS BAYELSA AND EDO STATES
The ACE6 project funded by USAID and PEPFAR is a five year initiative aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s progress toward ending AIDS by the year 2030. It focuses on three states Lagos Bayelsa and Edo covering thirty seven local government areas.
The program targets general and high risk populations including adolescents single mothers trafficking survivors and children of key populations. Implemented by Heartland Alliance in partnership with Pathfinder International and KNCV Nigeria the project uses evidence based interventions that strengthen HIV prevention testing treatment and support services.
Through digital innovations like LAMIS Plus which manages client records and Plasma Separation Cards that make testing faster the project has achieved impressive results. By 2025 the program recorded more than two million HIV tests thirty four thousand new people placed on treatment and a ninety six percent viral suppression rate.
The project has also provided prevention services such as Pre Exposure Prophylaxis to almost thirty thousand people and cervical cancer screening to more than twenty nine thousand women.
SUCCESS STORIES FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES
In riverine Bayelsa Peter another beneficiary shared his story. Diagnosed in 2022 he was immediately placed on treatment through mobile clinics that reach remote areas. Today he is healthy and grateful that the drugs are free and available at his local clinic.
The project also integrates gender based violence response legal access and community engagement through partnerships with traditional leaders. In Edo State services are delivered closer to communities through flexible models that reduce waiting time and improve testing and case tracking.
BUILDING STRONGER HEALTH SYSTEMS THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING
At the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Yaba Lagos the ACE6 project supported major laboratory improvements. Professor Oliver Ezechi Director of Medical Research revealed that the project introduced innovations that reduced viral load testing turnaround time from thirty days to just three. Between 2022 and 2024 the institute processed over seven hundred thousand viral load samples making it a national reference point for laboratory excellence.
The project also helped build the capacity of health workers strengthened data management systems and improved laboratory infrastructure.
STATE GOVERNMENTS COMMEND THE PROJECT AND CALL FOR SUSTAINABILITY
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health Dr Olusegun Ogboye said ACE6 greatly improved health services through digitalisation and better data quality. The State HIV AIDS Programme Coordinator Dr Oladipupo Fisher added that the project placed more than fifty thousand people on treatment and aligned perfectly with the state’s five year HIV strategic plan.
In Bayelsa the Director of Public Health Dr Jones Stow noted that sustainability depends on domestic financing and called for institutionalisation of outreach and logistics to ensure continuity when donor funding ends.
In Edo the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Stanley Ehinarimwian confirmed that ACE6 strengthened data systems improved logistics and built the capacity of health workers. The State HIV AIDS and STI Coordinator Dr Eguasa Driscoe Owen highlighted the introduction of biometric verification and genealogical testing which improved client tracking and treatment adherence.
MOVING FORWARD TO END AIDS BY 2030
Experts across Lagos Bayelsa and Edo agreed that Nigeria must take ownership of its HIV response by strengthening health systems investing in local resources and maintaining community based support.
Faith and Peter’s stories are living proof that HIV is no longer a death sentence when treatment care and compassion are sustained. With continuous commitment and domestic support the vision of ending AIDS in Nigeria by 2030 can become a reality.
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