Nigeria begins providing free annual liver and kidney function tests for people living with HIV/AIDS through expanded health insurance coverage.

The Federal Government has begun providing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) access to free annual liver and kidney function tests under expanded health insurance coverage.

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Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced the initiative during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration in Abuja, organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and partners.

The event carried the theme: “Overcoming disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV response.”

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1, raises awareness about HIV/AIDS, promotes global solidarity, and reviews progress in combating the epidemic.

Salako said the government is moving towards full integration of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, and the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme into a single, accessible service.

“This integrated approach will ensure that children and adolescents can access multiple essential services during a single visit, thereby improving health outcomes,” he explained.

He also highlighted a recent decision by the National Council on Health to lower the consent age for voluntary HIV counselling and testing from 18 to 14 years, boosting testing among adolescents and promoting early diagnosis and care.

The Minister further encouraged states to integrate the National Clinical Mentorship Programme into their annual operational plans to ensure patients remain on treatment and prevent loss to follow-up.

“I call on all stakeholders—states, partners, civil society, communities, and the private sector—to strengthen collaboration, scale innovation, and accelerate our march toward the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat,” he said.

Dr. Temitope Ilori, NACA Director-General, reported that Nigeria is on track to meet the 2030 target of ending HIV, achieving an 87–98–95 performance towards global 95–95–95 targets.

“Eighty-seven per cent of people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status; 98 per cent of those are on life-saving treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression,” she said.

Abdulkadiri Ibrahim, President of the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, stressed the need for domestic funding, improved community engagement, and greater access to viral load testing.

UN Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah highlighted the importance of domestic financing, human rights protection, community empowerment, and health system strengthening to sustain Nigeria’s HIV response.

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“Together, we will sustain the response. Together, we will overcome distractions. Together, we will build a future where every person can live with health, dignity, and hope,” she said.