Mary Boyd, the director of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), has expressed optimism that Nigeria would end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Ms Boyd said this at the end of the fourth biannual stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC in Abuja.

According to Ms Boyd, the scientific work done in Nigeria through various implementing partners would reach “zero-dose children and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats.”

She said the discussions, which focused on improving health outcomes and achieving HIV epidemic control at the subnational level, resulted in enthusiasm about Nigeria’s efforts to achieve success in disease control.

The U.S. CDC director thanked participants and stakeholders for their willingness to “ask questions and follow the science.”

 The event also featured honouring select presenters and projects for their scientific contributions, which Salma Anas, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on health, carried out.

The meeting also provided a platform for state HIV programmes and partners to share their scientific work. 

Speakers highlighted the vital role that state ministries of health play in achieving sustainable outbreak responses, immunisation systems, and HIV programmes.

The presentations and panels focused on strengthening collaborations for effective public health programmes. 

Thirty-five posters and nine oral abstracts were presented, highlighting the importance of evidence-based program design and implementation.

The next stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC will be held later in October.

(NAN)