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UNAIDS Takes Campaign to Mobilise for AIDS to Vatican
UNAIDS Takes Campaign to Mobilise for AIDS to Vatican
By: Michael Mike
The Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima has drum support for the AIDS Programme, meeting with leaders in the Catholic Church as part of a global effort to mobilize voices of faith to stand up in a moment of crisis for the AIDS response.
Speaking to communities of faith at events in Vatican City Ms Byanyima said, “Two weeks ago, the world’s biggest AIDS relief programme was paused. 20 million people living with HIV rely on the United States Government for the medication they need to stay alive and prevent HIV infection. A humanitarian waiver was issued allowing some lifesaving medicines to be distributed. That is welcome. But the programme’s future remains uncertain.”
A statement by UNAIDS on Thursday read: “HIV clinics around the world have shuttered and HIV prevention and treatment programmes have been derailed. Without funding from the United States, within four years, 6.3 million people will die and 8.9 million will newly acquire HIV. Around 370 000 babies will acquire HIV, and without treatment, half will not live to see their second birthday.
Byanyima said: “The AIDS movement has been through this before. When people were dying from neglect in the early days of HIV in Africa, Asia, and Latin America it was the churches that stepped up to care for the sick and dying. Catholic Leaders have called urgently for the restoration of HIV programmes and other crucial international funding.
“The church has a powerful voice that reaches into communities around the world,” said Ms Byanyima. “We need the voice of faith and the leadership of faith in the world that we are in today–this time to defend the global AIDS response and lifesaving programmes like PEPFAR. Human life is sacred–and today, it hangs in the balance.”
The AIDS response has recently been presented with a game-changing opportunity. In 2024, Gilead announced that its breakthrough medicine lenacapavir can prevent HIV with injections just twice a year. If made available and affordable to all in need, this could present the opportunity to end what has been the deadliest pandemic in generations.
“Humanity has made incredible progress tackling AIDS. But let me be clear. Without funding for the HIV response, we risk losing all we have gained and could see a resurgent AIDS pandemic. And if we want national governments to plug the gap, we must give them the means to do so and support a sustainable transition,” Byanyima added.
The statement said that even before the US announcement, the AIDS response had a financing gap of US$ 9.5 billion. UNAIDS estimates that US$ 29.3 billion is needed to get countries on track and end the AIDS pandemic by 2030.
Byanyima added that: “That is why at the Vatican today we are also focused on enabling low- and middle-income countries to raise domestic funding for the HIV response. Proper taxation and relieving the crushing burden of debt are critical.”
UNAIDS will continue to partner with the United States, other donors and countries most affected by HIV to ensure a robust and sustainable response to HIV and to achieve our collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the statement noted.
UNAIDS Takes Campaign to Mobilise for AIDS to Vatican
Massive Bandit Attack in Kwara Police station, Leaves Police ASP Dead, Market Looted
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits numbering about 200 stormed Babanla town in Kwara state on motorbikes at around 1:00 p.m. on Friday, killing a police officer and looting a local market.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the assailants, who fired sporadically, attacked the Babanla Police Station, where ASP Adejumo Wasiu attached to the ACPOL Offa was shot dead. His AK-47 rifle was taken by the attackers.
Sources said that the station was ransacked, though no additional arms were lost, as all other weapons were on charge at the time.
After the assault on the police facility, the gunmen moved to the town’s market, seizing large quantities of foodstuffs.
A joint force comprising military, police, vigilantes, and local hunters mobilized swiftly, repelling the attack and restoring order.
The number of civilian casualties remains unknown as at the time of filling this report
Massive Bandit Attack in Kwara Police station, Leaves Police ASP Dead, Market Looted
Eight Suspects Escape from Police Custody in Gona in Bauchi One Rearrested
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Gona in Bauchi state are on a manhunt after eight suspects in custody for various offences escaped from their cell in the early hours of August 8, 2025.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 12:20 a.m. on Saturday when the detainees broke out of their cell and forcefully opened the nearby exit door before fleeing to an unknown destination.
It was gathered that a rapid response patrol and divisional surveillance teams were deployed immediately. One of the escapees, identified as Abdullahi Haliru, has since been rearrested.
The sources said that authorities have circulated alerts to aid in the capture of the remaining fugitives
Eight Suspects Escape from Police Custody in Gona in Bauchi One Rearrested
Zulum Approves Establishment of Equipment Maintenance Unit
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the establishment of a dedicated Equipment Maintenance Unit to ensure the optimal use and maintenance of heavy equipment.
The Unit, which will be domiciled under the Governor’s Office, is designed to provide proper oversight and coordination of all heavy machinery owned by the state government.
This initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency, extend the lifespan of critical assets, and achieve significant cost savings.
In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani, emphasised that the creation of the Unit aligns with the state’s ongoing development projects and recent procurement of heavy equipment.
“In line with ongoing development projects and the procurement of heavy equipment by Borno State Government, the Executive Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the establishment of a dedicated Equipment Maintenance Unit placed directly under the Governor’s Office to ensure proper oversight and coordination, Tijani states.
“The creation of the unit is a strategic step toward effective management of the government’s heavy equipment assets which aligns with the governor’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and sustainable development,” the statement adds.
The newly established Unit would be headed by a qualified engineer with relevant experience in heavy equipment maintenance and management.
Zulum Approves Establishment of Equipment Maintenance Unit
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