The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, has said about 450,000 people in Nigeria are on treatment for HIV/AIDS.
The institute which is collaborating with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS also pledged to support the Federal Government in the fight against non-communicable diseases in the country.
The institute’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday that the support would be according to the national plan.
“Recently, we have commenced support in the area of cancer and we are supporting a number of hospitals to establish a cancer register which is a prelude in knowing the cases of cancer in the country.
“We have a partnership with the National Malaria Control Programme. We also partner with them in rolling out rapid diagnostic test for malaria.
“The institute is also involved in providing malaria treatment at community level. IHVN has also commenced focusing on non-communicable diseases,’’ he said.
Dakum said the institute would also provide intervention in tackling the issue of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
He said the IHVN was among the institutes which helped in detecting multi-drug TB cases in the country, and also established a molecular diagnostic centre for the disease.
On HIV/AIDS, Dakum said IHVN had placed on treatment no fewer than 100,000 of those infected by the disease as part of efforts to curb it.
He observed that there was a decline in the issue of stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.
“We are moving towards being part of the global community as regards getting the HIV/AIDS vaccine. We are not there yet, but we are on the right track,’’ Dakum said.
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