The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have agreed to integrate HIV prevention and treatment into Nigeria’s disaster and emergency response framework.
The commitment followed a courtesy visit by NACA Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, to NEMA’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday to explore collaboration in humanitarian response.
Both agencies pledged to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups have access to HIV testing, prevention tools, and treatment during emergencies.
Dr. Ilori commended NEMA for its coordination of national emergency efforts and emphasised the importance of embedding HIV services in disaster management systems.
“There is a need to ensure that IDPs and other vulnerable populations have access to HIV prevention tools, testing services, and treatment during crises,” Ilori stated.
NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, described the partnership as strategic, noting that it would strengthen community resilience and reduce vulnerability.
“NEMA and NACA share a common goal of coordination — while NEMA manages disaster response, NACA coordinates the national HIV response. Synergy between both agencies is vital for building resilient communities,” Umar said.
She added that HIV prevention should be part of health assessments in IDP camps to address stigma, confidentiality, and the realities of long-term settlements.
The collaboration marks a new phase in linking public health and emergency management to safeguard vulnerable communities nationwide.
