U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby to Visit Nigeria

February 19, 2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan Receives Ambassador Eric Goosby at State House Abuja, Febraury 22, 2010

Ambassador Eric Goosby, the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, will visit Nigeria from February 21-24.' His visit highlights the strategic partnership between the people of the United States and the people of Nigeria in the fight against HIV/AIDS.' Ambassador Goosby leads all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts. In this role, Ambassador Goosby oversees implementation of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as well as U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In meetings with senior government leaders, legislators, implementing partners and civil society leaders, Ambassador Goosby will describe his vision for PEPFAR and the next five years of the program and explore opportunities to strengthen our partnership to ensure a sustainable, long-term response built on Nigerian leadership.' Ambassador Goosby's visit coincides with the visit of UNAIDS Executive Director, Michele Sidib', reflecting the strong international collaboration among Nigeria, the United States, and other international partners.
PEPFAR's efforts during the first five years was instrumental in getting services out quickly to those in need as part of an emergency response.' As of September 2009, PEPFAR has made significant contributions to Nigeria's HIV response, including:

• More than 39 million people have been reached with community outreach programs promoting Abstinence, Being Faithful, Correct and Consistent Use of Condoms (ABC), and other related preventive strategies;
• Approximately 4.5 million people have been reached with HIV counseling and testing services;
• More than 1.5 million pregnant women have been provided with health services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and;
• About 290,000 men, women and children are on anti-retroviral therapy.

The U.S. government is dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria, and to improving integration with other health and development programs, as we transition to greater local ownership of the HIV/AIDS response.