UNAIDS appoints ‘Jenifa’ goodwill ambassador for HIV prevention

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed Nigerian actress Funke Akindele, popularly known as ‘Jenifa’, as its National Goodwill Ambassador for HIV in Nigeria.

Her mandate includes raising awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to treatment.

The announcement was made during the 2024 World AIDS Day (WAD) celebration, themed ‘Take the Rights Path: Sustain the HIV Response and Stop HIV Among Children to End AIDS in Nigeria by 2030’.

The event was organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr Leo Zekeng, UNAIDS Country Representative, acknowledged the progress Nigeria has made in combating HIV over the past two decades.

He stressed the importance of sustaining efforts to meet the 2030 target of ending AIDS.

He also noted the need to strengthen advocacy for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) through collaboration with key stakeholders.

“Prevention is better than cure. UNAIDS, which serves as the secretariat for this initiative within the UN system under the leadership of our Resident Coordinator, has engaged ‘Jenifa’ (Funke Akindele) to work closely with NACA and other partners,” Zekeng said.

He urged the newly appointed ambassador to champion campaigns aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, particularly among children, by 2030.

He also assured her of support from other UN agencies.

Dr Iziaq Adekunle-Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, encouraged the ambassador and other influential Nigerians to use their platforms to amplify awareness about HIV prevention and treatment.

Dr Temitope Ilori, Director General of NACA, pledged the agency’s support, along with that of other partners, to help Nigeria achieve its goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

In her response, Akindele expressed her commitment to intensifying efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, focusing on awareness, stigma reduction, and access to treatment.

She emphasised her dedication to addressing critical issues such as PMTCT and ensuring no child is born with HIV.

Akindele also pledged to collaborate with national and international organisations, including the Federal Government, to enhance public awareness through digital campaigns and foster partnerships among stakeholders.

“With hope and determination, I pledge to contribute meaningfully towards ending HIV/AIDS as a global health threat,” she said.

Akindele noted the urgency of adopting a human rights-based approach to tackling the epidemic, particularly in Nigeria, where over 160,000 children are living with HIV.

World AIDS Day is observed globally on December 1 to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and to honour the lives affected by the epidemic.