The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has said the prevalence rate of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) in Nigeria reduced from 4.4 per cent in 2005 to 1.4 per cent in 2018.
The agency said the reduction in the prevalence rate was the result of joint efforts of the Federal Government, communities working with government, partners and other donor agencies in the last 15 years.
NACA’s Director-General, Dr. Aliyu Gambo, who spoke at the commemoration of the World AIDS Day in Abuja, said: “Early this year, President Muhammadu Buhari released results of the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) survey, which showed the huge difference communities in Nigeria made in stemming the tide of HIV epidemic.
“Communities working with government, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Global Funds and other donor agencies over the last 15 years succeeded in reducing HIV prevalence from 4.4 per cent in 2005 to 1.4 per cent in 2018. This outstanding performance by our communities has put Nigeria on the path of achieving HIV epidemic control.
“However, it is important to note that achieving epidemic control will require more resources in the form of community time and effort to educate the society, fight stigma and discrimination to improve access to HIV services by every member of the community.”
Senate President Ahmed Lawan said: “Nigeria is on this day launching an important and strategic campaign to help the country achieve zero new HIV infections and reduce stigma for Nigerians living with HIV.”
UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Erasmus Morah said of the 120,000 Lagosians living with HIV/AIDS, 60,000 have not shown up for treatment.
Morah stated this in a message at the formal dissemination of the Lagos State local government disaggregated Nigeria HIV/AIDS indicator and impact survey (UNAIDS) data and the inauguration of the state’s HIV consortium group by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Radisson Blu Hotel on Victoria Island.
He said many among the 60,000 Lagosians are not aware they have the virus while those aware are not willing to go treatment because of stigma.
The UNAIDS chief said they risk transmitting the virus to others.
Inaugurating the consortium group, Sanwo-Olu said though the rate of HIV prevalence in the state had reduced to 1.4 per cent from 4.4 per cent, it was still a source of concern to his administration.
“Although the current prevalence rate shows a reduction, it is still a source of concern when we consider the actual number of people within the bracket. There is, therefore, the need for us to step up our efforts to achieve a further reduction in the prevalence rate through aggressive public enlightenment campaign, which must be taken to the nooks and crannies of the state,” he said.
The consortium group, the governor said, is to provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and coordinate a sustained and improved response towards achieving the 90:90:90 target in the state.
