The Coalition of Civil Society Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (COCSNHAN) says hosting the International Conference for AIDS and STDs in Africa (ICASA) by Nigeria will boost the country’s fight against the epidemic.
Mr Ikenna Nwakamma, first co-chairman of the society, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday.
NAN reports that Nigeria is competing with Kenya, Tunisia, Zambia, and Uganda for the hosting of the conference in 2021.
Nwakamma, who called for the hosting of the conference in Nigeria, said it would help reduce the spread of the virus in the country.
He described it as an opportunity to further press for greater commitment of governments at all levels in Nigeria towards meeting the global target on elimination of new infections and AIDS.
“The Coalition of Civil Society Networks on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria is in support of Nigeria’s proposal to host the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2021).
“Nigeria has borne a greater burden of HIV over the years and has lot of success stories to share with the world,” Nwakamma said.
He explained that the call for Nigeria to host ICASA 2021, was not just because it had the capacity to hold the conference, but because the country with its large community of experts working in the HIV space, had a lot to share in the global arena.
According to Nwakamma, the country should look at the economic opportunities hosting the event will present and the possibility of triggering motivation of those in the academia and research.
He said that the conference would engender interesting research projects that would further bring Nigeria to the limelight in public health research space to the advantage of advocates and patients.
