*Billed For December 1
*Symposium, Other Activities To Heighten Response Sustenance
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) is gearing up to celebrate this year’s World AIDS Day, with arrangements at peak level already.
The yearly event takes place on 1 December. The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response’.
A statement issued today by Bola Ajao, Special Assistant (SA), Media, to the Mandate Secretary, HSES, Dr Folapo Fasawe, which disclosed these, declared that the 2025 World AIDS Day activities in FCT will be “open, participatory, and focused on the community.”
The statement quoted the FCT Director of Public Health, Dr Dan Gadzama, as saying that Dr Fasawe has directed that the Secretariat joins the rest of the world in creating awareness and reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS through a one-day high level symposium during the event.
The symposium is billed for RockView Hotels, Abuja, on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, by 10 am.
According to the statement, the symposium will bring together policymakers, health workers, development partners, people living with HIV/AIDS, and community members to discuss progress made so far, share useful information, and agree on better ways to support HIV programmes in FCT.
“The aim is for everyone to speak with one voice and work together to support those affected and improve the overall response,”it noted.
The State Program Coordinator for HIV/AIDs, STIs and Viral Hepatitis, Dr Fatima Daggash, was quoted as explaining that December 1 is recognised worldwide as a day to remember those who have died from AIDS, appreciate the progress achieved, and renew commitment to ending the disease.
Daggash added that “this is why bringing all stakeholders together is important so they can honestly discuss the current situation and agree on what needs to be improved.”
Dr Daggash also noted that free counseling and HIV testing as well as community sensitization activities will be part of this year’s event so as to encourage early detection, ensure linkage to care, sustain viral suppression and reduce stigma.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Celebrating World AIDS Day.
