By Ovat Abeng
The Executive Director/Project Manager of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke, has paid a strategic advocacy visit to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Secretariat in Abuja, on Wednesday, reinforcing Anambra State’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s HIV response. He was received by Dr. James Anenih, Director of Community Prevention and Care Services at NACA, alongside Dr. Sam Anya of UNAIDS.
The visit formally introduced Dr. Okeke as the new head of ANSACA and provided a platform to deepen national collaboration, strengthen technical partnerships, and align Anambra State’s HIV response with national priorities.
During the engagement, Dr. Okeke articulated a forward-looking vision focused on expanding HIV awareness, prevention, and testing services to the grassroots across all local government areas in Anambra. He emphasized targeted interventions for key and vulnerable populations, data-driven programming, and community ownership as critical pillars for reducing new infections and accelerating progress toward epidemic control. In response, Dr. Anenih—standing in for the Director-General of NACA—commended the clarity, energy, and strategic direction of the Anambra response, noting its strong alignment with Nigeria’s new HIV prevention priorities.
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A major highlight of the visit was the formal presentation of the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan (2026–2030) to the ANSACA Executive Director. In recognition of Anambra State’s readiness, strategic positioning, and commitment to innovation, the state is being considered as a pilot for the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan. This positions Anambra as a leading model for translating national policy into impactful, community-level results.
Contributing further to the discussion, Dr. Sam Anya of UNAIDS underscored the importance of a truly multisectoral response, stressing alignment with the “One Strategy” framework that integrates national and state-level HIV efforts. He highlighted the need for sustained collaboration across government, civil society, and development partners to ensure efficiency, accountability, and measurable impact.
The visit marks a significant step toward stronger federal-state synergy and signals a renewed era of collaboration, innovation, and technical support. With Anambra State poised as a potential pilot, the partnership between ANSACA, NACA, and UNAIDS is set to drive more coordinated, effective, and sustainable HIV prevention efforts across Nigeria.
