NACA and NEMA to integrate HIV prevention in emergencies, ensuring IDPs access testing and care during crises through coordinated national response.

HIV prevention in emergencies is set to receive a strategic boost as the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) pledge deeper collaboration to safeguard vulnerable populations during disasters.

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This renewed partnership was the outcome of a courtesy visit by NACA Director General, Dr Temitope Ilori, to NEMA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

According to a statement released Friday by NACA, the meeting aimed to explore ways to integrate HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services into national emergency response systems.

Dr Ilori praised NEMA for its vital role in managing emergencies across Nigeria and stressed the urgency of embedding HIV interventions within disaster relief operations — particularly in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

“There is a need to ensure that IDPs and other vulnerable populations have access to HIV prevention tools, testing services, and treatment during crises,” she said.

Her counterpart, NEMA Director General Mrs Zubaida Umar, described the partnership as timely, noting that both agencies serve overlapping mandates of resilience-building and coordinated response.

“While NEMA coordinates disaster response, NACA coordinates the national HIV response. Therefore, synergy between the two agencies is essential for building community resilience,” Umar said.

She highlighted gaps in current emergency response systems, revealing that health screenings in IDP camps rarely assess for HIV, and called for the integration of HIV-related services, including prevention education, testing, and treatment. She also raised concerns about stigma and the need for confidentiality in humanitarian settings.

Umar acknowledged the increasing relevance of HIV prevention in long-term displacement contexts, where adult cohabitation is common.

She expressed interest in NACA’s available preventive tools and medications as part of camp support infrastructure.

The meeting marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and comprehensive emergency response approach in Nigeria — one that takes into account both immediate disaster relief and long-term public health priorities.

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As both agencies prepare to operationalise the framework, the partnership offers a model for how HIV prevention in emergencies can become a cornerstone of resilience in humanitarian interventions.