The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), in collaboration with partners including NACA, NASCP, AHF, UNAIDS, IHVN, and other civil society organizations, convened a three-day, September 9 – 11, 2025, national dialogue on health financing and the domestication of the HIV Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Law. The event brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, donors, and community representatives to strengthen advocacy for sustainable domestic HIV financing and to advance the protection of human rights for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Opening Session:
NEPWHAN National Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkadir Ibrahim, welcomed participants and emphasized that stigma and discrimination continue to limit treatment access, calling for stronger partnerships and multi-sectoral action. Lawmakers, including Hon. Atiku Abubakar and Hon. Abdul-Rahman Momodu, reaffirmed government commitment to ending HIV while stressing the urgency of bridging funding gaps.

Goodwill Messages:
Representatives from NACA, NASCP, AHF, IHVN, and UNAIDS commended NEPWHAN’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of domestic financing, sustainability, and inclusive decision-making. NACA and NASCP pledged continued collaboration with CSOs to ensure community voices inform national health planning, while UNAIDS called for clear advocacy frameworks around sustainability and legal domestication.

Technical and Policy Discussions:
Presentations led by NASCP, NACA, and AHF highlighted Nigeria’s growing funding gaps due to declining donor support and underscored the need for coordinated advocacy for domestic resource mobilization, integration of HIV services into health insurance schemes, and stronger public-private partnerships. Legislators from Kogi, Adamawa, and Benue shared state-level progress on anti-stigma law domestication and health trust fund initiatives to strengthen local ownership.

Budget and Financing Analysis:
Experts from Dataphyte and Global TB Caucus presented evidence showing Nigeria’s health allocation remains below 5% of GDP, with heavy reliance on donor funding. Participants were introduced to open-source platforms for budget tracking to enhance accountability and data-driven advocacy. CSOs were encouraged to develop unified advocacy messages linking evidence to policy action.

Key Recommendations and Outcomes:

  • Accelerate domestication and enforcement of the HIV Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Law across all states.
  • Advocate for increased domestic financing and inclusion of HIV services in health insurance packages.
  • Strengthen community-led monitoring (CLM) and data systems for accountability.
  • Promote multi-sectoral collaboration among government, CSOs, and the private sector.
  • Ensure sustainability through local ownership and evidence-based advocacy.

Closing Session:
The dialogue concluded with renewed commitments from government, partners, and civil society to protect the rights of PLHIV, reduce stigma and discrimination, and pursue sustainable financing models for Nigeria’s HIV response.

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