Religious Leaders Advocate for Equitable Access to HIV Innovations and Long-Acting Injectables
Religious leaders and the community of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria have emphasized the urgent need to strengthen and integrate HIV services within primary healthcare systems. They are pushing for equitable access to scientific innovations, including long-acting injectables for HIV prevention and treatment, to combat the ongoing pandemic effectively.
Call to Action for Traditional and Religious Leaders
In a communique issued at the end of a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue titled "Faith Forward: Reclaiming HIV in the Health Agenda," leaders appealed to traditional rulers, religious figures, and faith-based organizations. They urged increased awareness about the reality of HIV, promotion of stigma-free communities, and mobilization for HIV prevention, care, and treatment. The event was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) through its HIV, Reproductive Health & Pandemics Programme, with support from ViiV Healthcare and in alliance with the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV (NINERELA+).
Critical Crossroads in HIV Response
Most Revd. Benebo Fubara, Immediate Past President of the Church Council of Nigeria, highlighted that the HIV response is at a critical crossroads. He cited declining funding, persistent stigma, health system gaps, and increasing vulnerability among young people as major challenges. Fubara expressed concern that HIV remains a significant global issue, with 1.3 million new infections worldwide and about 48,000 new cases recorded in Nigeria in 2024.
"It is particularly worrisome that at a time when scientific advances such as long-acting injectables offer transformative potentials in ending the HIV pandemic, we face the risk of limited access without urgent and equitable scale-up," Fubara stated. He emphasized the need to close the gap between scientific progress and economic funding, arguing that faith and science are complementary in advancing health and justice.
Role of Faith Communities and Funding Needs
Fubara stressed that faith communities play a critical role in promoting compassion, reducing stigma, and supporting access to HIV services. He called for increased and sustained domestic HIV programme financing in Nigeria to ensure an effective response and protect human rights. "Religious leaders are uniquely positioned to foster trust, mobilise communities, and uphold human dignity," he added, reaffirming their commitment to ending new HIV infections and AIDS as a public health threat.
He urged the government to partner meaningfully with faith and community systems, sustain awareness for HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and called on development partners and the private sector to increase funding and technical support for the HIV response.
Support from Islamic and Women's Communities
Imam Fuad Adeyemi, the National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, emphasized that stigma should not be attached to anyone based on their HIV status. He highlighted the availability of new tools for treating or controlling HIV and AIDS and called on the government to act in partnership with faith leaders to end the disease in the country.
Oluchi Ndubuisi, speaking on behalf of the International Community of Women Living with HIV West Africa (ICWWA), stressed the need for united action to end stigma and make services available and accessible for everyone.
Dialogue Outcomes and Future Plans
The Dialogue brought together religious leaders, policymakers, people living with HIV, healthcare providers, and civil society representatives to explore how faith and science can jointly strengthen national HIV responses. Participants deliberated on justice, equity, current HIV science, budget advocacy, and the development of a Joint Action Plan to support sustainable, community-led HIV prevention and care.
