Reps Set to Investigate N62 Billion Allocated for HIV Control by FG

• The House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Malaria plans to investigate the utilization and impact of N62 billion federal intervention funds in HIV/AIDS control
• Committee Chairman Amobi Ogah expresses concern over the accuracy of HIV/AIDS prevalence statistics and calls for improved sensitization in rural communities

The House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Malaria has committed to probing the utilization and impact of the N62 billion federal government intervention funds, along with additional donor funds from Global Funds invested in the HIV/AIDS control program during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Committee Chairman, Amobi Ogah, declared this intention during an oversight visit to various agencies in Abuja on Thursday. While expressing optimism about the strides made in the fight against HIV/AIDS by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), led by Director-General Dr. Aliyu Gambo, concerns were raised about the accuracy of statistics on HIV/AIDS prevalence across states.

Members of the committee emphasized the need for enhanced sensitization on the disease’s impact, particularly in rural communities. Data from the National HIV/AIDS Impact Survey conducted by NACA revealed that, in most states, a significant proportion of individuals sampled had contracted the HIV/AIDS virus.

Despite pledging support for NACA’s disease control programs, the committee expressed disappointment at the absence of the National Coordinators of the National Malaria Control Programme and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programmes (NTLCP) during the oversight, despite prior notification.

Expressing frustration over the absence of the chief executive officers, who were represented by their staff members, Committee Chairman Ogah remarked that their actions demonstrated a lack of regard for the National Assembly. He further highlighted that, rather than politicians, the leadership of government agencies and institutions constituted a major challenge for the nation.