The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has revealed that Nigeria records approximately 22,000 new HIV infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths among children each year.
Dr Temitope Ilori, NACA’s Director General, disclosed this on Monday during the 2024 World AIDS Day Press Conference.
Citing the UNAIDS 2023 report, Dr Ilori disclosed that about 160,000 Nigerian children aged 0-14 are living with HIV.
She noted that the country struggles with preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, with coverage rates still below 33%, far from the 95% global target.
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“Despite progress, our PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remain inadequate. In 2021, we adopted the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children, but implementation gaps persist. To address this, the Honourable Minister of State for Health has established a national acceleration committee to oversee progress,” Dr. Ilori said.
She also said Nigeria’s HIV prevalence among the general population aged 15-64 stands at 1.4%, with an estimated 2 million people living with HIV.
The Nigeria Country Coordinator of the US-funded President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Funmi Adesanya, emphasised the importance of sustaining the gains made over the past two decades in providing treatment and reducing new infections.
She urged stakeholders to address social issues like stigma, discrimination, and structural inequalities that hinder access to care, particularly for marginalized groups.
Dr. Patrick Dakum, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), represented by Dr Olayemi Olupitan, called for renewed commitment, investment, and innovation.
UNAIDS Country Director, Dr Leo Zekeng, emphasized the need for a sustainable approach, renewed political commitment, and increased domestic funding to identify and place more individuals on treatment.
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