Commemorating this year’s World AIDS Day in Enugu State Agency for Control of HIV/ AIDS (ENSACA) at the occasion titled: “Overcoming  Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS Response” – Enugu State Agency for the Control of HIV & AIDS – (ENSACA) said that they have mapped out three core 

Pillars to overcome disruptions, sustain Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response and reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence in Enugu State by 1%.

   This was disclose by the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ENSACA), Dr. Emeh Rita , while delivering her address at the commemoration of WORLD AIDS DAY 2025, where she also commended the trust health professionals have earned by disseminating quality and authentic HIV information to adolescents and urged more health workers to get involved in school, market and community awareness programs.   

    She highlighted the vital role of teachers, religious leaders, and parents in HIV sensitization and praised their efforts. She also noted the wider reach of social media in this campaign, underscoring its importance and emphasizing the need for health workers to use social media channels to spread HIV information to the public.

  Dr. Emeh expressed gratitude to the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, describing him as “the most innovative, proactive, and pragmatic governor in the country.” She thanked him for supporting the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration and for his dedicated efforts towards combat HIV and AIDS in Enugu State. She also thanked individuals and agencies for their material and financial support during the planning and execution of the activities that marked the event, including the line ministries, various HIV networks, implementing partners, and other stakeholders. 

She emphasized that Enugu State has over the years made remarkable progress in reducing new infections, expanding treatment access, and curbing stigma and discrimination, but was affected by the global and national triggers like the disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic, the national and economic instability, insecurity, and health system challenges.

   She noted that these disruptions affected service delivery, slowed testing, community outreach, and interrupted supply chains for life-saving anti-retroviral drugs across communities in Nigeria.

   On how the Agency intends to tackle these disruptions, Dr Emeh noted that ENSACA has outlined three core pillars: Through strengthened partnership and collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and the communities;

   ”By embracing data-driven and technology-supported programming. She emphasized on the need for innovation using digital platforms to track HIV adherence, real time reporting and outreaches ensuring that resources reach those most in need;

deepened investment in sustainability and local ownership. She maintained that Nigeria’s HIV response can only endure when state and community systems take full responsibility for results.

   In her words, “ENSACA will work closely with the State government on domestic funding, strengthen supply chains, and build the capacity of the workforce for continuity and resilience. We will also engender youth engagement and gender sensitive approaches, recognizing that our young people are drivers of both prevention and leadership in sustaining the response.”

  Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health Enugu State, Professor George Ùgwù, at the occasion commended ENSACA for their commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS spread and reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue to work with the Agency and the Ministry of Health in the fight against HIV escalation till the threat is gone before 2030.

His words, “From the discussions and presentations by experts, we’ve seen that Enugu State has an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.1%, which is lower than the South East’s 2.9%. The government is committed to working with ENSACA and the State Ministry of Health to reduce this to less than 1% as soon as possible.”

   He highlighted some of the support the government has given to the agencies and ministries on sensitization, counseling, testing and the need to sustain the interventions.

    According to him, “We’re stressing the importance of testing so people can know their status and live healthy lives. We’re using all available interventions, and we are assuring you that everything needed is being done. Before World AIDS Day, we went out to major junctions and markets in Enugu with workers from ENSACA, the Ministry of Health, and other development partners/organisations to do sensitization, counseling, and testing. They were part of our activities to commemorate World AIDS DAY, and we’re succeeding, thanks to teamwork with the state government.”

   The governor made special emphasis on his administration’s interventions in healthcare centres and what they intend to achieve when completed.

“We’re modernizing our healthcare infrastructure, including Primary and Secondary Healthcare centers. So far, 260 brand-new Type II hospitals have been initiated, with many already completed, commissioned, and a few nearing completion. We’re thrilled to announce that HIV testing and counseling services will be available at these centers across all wards in Enugu State, which will help us expand care and lower HIV prevalence.”

   Other speakers at the occasion include the wife of the governor of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the wife of the Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs Chinyere Ugwu; Mr Okafor, Coordinator NEHPWHAN, Rev. Victor Nvene. They all commended ENSACA for their reinvigorated fight against HIV escalation in the State, their massive awareness campaign/Sensitisation, school-to-school and community-to-community HIV education and testing. They praised the leadership of Dr. Emeh Rita for her high level of impact within a short time in office as the Executive Secretary ENSACA.

   Also present at the event were 

Commissioner for Lands Enugu State, Barr. Chimaobi Patrick Okorie:

Commissioner for Youths and Sports Enugu State, Barrister Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu jr. ;

former Commissioner for Health Enugu State, Professor Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu; Chairman ENSIEC, Professor Chris Chimdubem ;

Professor Polycarp Agå; Professor Idoko Chinedu Arthur ;

The President Nigerian Medical Association Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Sunday Okafor; Director Public Health, Ministry of Health Enugu;

Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency;

Nwakaego Ajah PhD, Member 3 ENSUBEB;

Former PDP Woman Leader, Hon. Peace Patrick, and other esteemed leaders.

   The event featured other side attractions: Free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, the debate competition among College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, Queens College Enugu, and Anglican Girls Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu.

Drama presentation, the Enugu Cultural Troupe display, ämåada Peter Mbah displays.