No fewer than 1.6 million out of the two million people living with HIV in Nigeria are currently receiving treatment, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, has announced.
Ilori made this declaration at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, ahead of the 2024 World AIDS Day, themed “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV Among Children, and End AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.”
World AIDS Day is observed globally on December 1st to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and to honour the lives affected by the epidemic.
Ilori explained that this year’s commemoration would place special emphasis on stopping AIDS among children and raising awareness about the sustainability and ownership of the HIV response.
“Nigeria has an HIV prevalence rate of 1.4 per cent among the general population aged 15–64 years, with an estimated two million people living with HIV. About 1.6 million of them are currently on treatment,” she stated. “The country continues to face significant challenges in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”
The UNAIDS 2023 report shows that approximately 160,000 children aged 0–14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring each year. Despite progress, Nigeria’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission and paediatric HIV coverage remains below 33 per cent, well below the 95 per cent target.
Ilori added that, following a comprehensive data analysis in 2021, NACA joined an international initiative and developed the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children.
She noted, “The plan is fully resourced, yet coverage continues to fall short. To address this, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, recently established a national-level acceleration committee to track implementation. I have paid advocacy visits and inaugurated state committees in three states, engaging directly with governors to support the launch and resourcing of similar committees at the state level, ensuring that no child is born HIV positive in Nigeria.”
She further explained that NACA had been working with stakeholders in co-creating a sustainability roadmap to ensure the continuity of the HIV response in the event of donor support withdrawal. “This roadmap, among other things, will ensure that Nigeria’s health system remains secure, both in terms of HIV and associated diseases,” she said.
The NACA boss also highlighted the agency’s significant achievements in transforming Nigeria’s HIV response over the past year. “On this World AIDS Day, I call on all Nigerians to join hands with NACA to break the stigma, embrace equity, drive collective action, and stop HIV among our children,” she urged.
“We must empower every individual, especially women who are most vulnerable to contracting HIV, and other vulnerable populations, to access life-saving services and live with dignity,” she added. “Together, let us recommit to the vision of an AIDS-free Nigeria by 2030. Ending AIDS is not just a target; it is a testament to our resolve, compassion, and unity as a nation.”
The Country Director of UNAIDS, Leo Zekeng, emphasised the need for sustainability and renewed political commitment in Nigeria’s fight to end AIDS by 2030.
“Sustainability means renewed political commitment and more domestic resources. I know the DG is working closely with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Health to allocate more resources from the government and the private sector to the AIDS response,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Virology Nigeria, Dr Patrick Dakum, called for sustained investment and innovative approaches to addressing the challenges ahead.
“Through our programs, including the Nigeria TB-HIV Reach Integration and Impact Project, we work closely with partners such as NACA to integrate HIV and TB services, expand community outreach, and address the social determinants of health that perpetuate inequalities,” he stated.
PEPFAR Nigeria Country Coordinator, Funmi Adesanya, highlighted the importance of expanding HIV prevention efforts and investing in resilient, inclusive healthcare systems. “None of this can be achieved without partnership.
Government agencies, civil society organisations, donors, and private sector partners must align for resource mobilisation to contribute to the shared goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” she concluded.
The PUNCH