U.S. CDC Hosts 5th Biannual Stakeholder Engagement Meeting in Abuja
By Edoamaowo Udeme
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) hosted the first day of its 5th round of stakeholder engagement meetings in Abuja on October 30th. The two-day event, themed “Strategic Pivoting Towards Program Simplification and Sustainable Public Health Intervention,” had a focus to foster collaboration among key stakeholders.
On the first day, participants focused on laying the groundwork for HIV program simplification, a critical step toward enhancing ownership and sustainability in public health interventions across Nigeria. Federal and state officials, multilateral agencies, community stakeholders, and implementing partners engaged in dynamic discussions about strategies and progress related to health workforce optimization and integration.
The second day focuses on reviewing progress of the state-led President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program and proffering innovative models for health insurance at both national and state levels. This emphasis on sustainable healthcare solutions is essential in ensuring lasting impacts on Nigeria’s public health landscape.
In his remarks on the first day, Richard Mills Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to working with all stakeholders and communities to achieve and sustain HIV epidemic control; prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks; and improve health outcomes across the country. He commended those tirelessly working to provide relief to Nigerians living with HIV and emphasized the importance of continued partnership and collaboration. Ambassador Mills said, “Nigeria remains a model to the rest of the world on how to not only reach HIV epidemic control but also how to invest in people and communities, so they have the tools and skills to change their lives.”
Suzanne Theroux, the U.S. CDC Acting Country Director, highlighted Nigeria’s significant progress achieved through transformative partnerships, policies, and evidence-based public health programming. She described the initiative known as ‘Getting the Data Right,’ which focuses on determining the number of people living with HIV who are receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, as a bold effort that not only validates Nigeria’s HIV treatment coverage but also supports the goal of sustainable health outcomes.
Ms. Theroux added, “The coordinated response to recent outbreaks of Lassa fever, cholera, mpox and other epidemic-prone diseases reflects our collective resilience and resolve to achieve optimal health for all Nigerians.” She also said that “Our collaborative efforts are closing the gap for zero-dose children, combatting the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases, and implementing innovations to eliminate malaria as a public health threat in Nigeria”.
The meeting exemplifies U.S. CDC’s commitment to regularly reviewing and adapting programming to meet the evolving needs of the HIV response in Nigeria. The next meeting is scheduled for April 2025.
