As the 2009 World AIDS Day with theme; “Universal Access and Human Right, approaches, the United States of America is erpected to partner Nigeria and other development partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Speaking in a press briefing at the embassy of the United States of America in Abuja, yesterday, the Director, Investing in Peoples Office (IIP) and Consultant with the US AID from the American people Mr. Alonzo Wind, said Nigeria is a very significant country in Africa, which had made the U.S. to partner with her so as to effectively fight   HIV/AIDS.

Wind revealed that US had contributed immensely to support the fight against the virus and advised African countries to use the opportunity to partner with its western compatriots in the fight against the virus.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Director, Strategic Knowledge Management, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Kayode Ogungbemi, affirmed that even if Nigeria has the financial resources to fight HIV/AIDS, the fight could only be done when other development partners contribute their quota in aspects of technical support and manufacturing of drugs.

Ogungbemi also stated that Nigeria is winning the battle against the virus, saying stigmatisation and discrimination had reduced, the level of awareness and drug availability had improved as a result of the collective efforts of the Federal Government, NACA and other development partners.