NACA, NEMA to Integrate HIV Care into Disaster Response
By Afolabi Nelson
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have agreed to begin integrating HIV prevention and care into Nigeria’s disaster management system.
This was the outcome of a meeting between NACA Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, and NEMA DG, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at NEMA’s headquarters in Abuja.
Both leaders discussed how to better support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups during emergencies.
Dr. Ilori praised NEMA’s efforts in managing national emergencies and stressed that access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment must continue even during crises. She said the partnership reflects NACA’s commitment to inclusive and coordinated responses that leave no one behind.
Mrs. Umar described the visit as timely, noting that both agencies share coordination roles NEMA in disaster management and NACA in HIV response. She said their collaboration would strengthen community resilience and reduce future disaster impacts.
Umar also emphasized the importance of including HIV services in IDP camp health checks and suggested adding HIV prevention materials to relief packs in a non-stigmatizing way.
She welcomed NACA’s plan for joint community outreach campaigns and proposed joint training for NEMA’s rescue teams to better support vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV, women, children, and persons with disabilities.
