The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has declared that 1,619,133 of Nigeria’s 1.9 million HIV carriers are now receiving treatment.
At a news conference held on Thursday in Abuja in honor of World AIDS Day with the theme “Equalize to End AIDS: Equal Access to Treatment and Prevention Services,” NACA Director-General Dr. Gambo Aliyu announced this.
According to Aliyu, the goal of this year’s WAD is to promote equal access for all vulnerable and impacted population groups by removing obstacles that exist in the way of HIV prevention services on the levels of the economy, society, culture, and law.
If left untreated, the HIV virus, which targets the immune system, can cause AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The WAD is observed annually on December 1 to raise awareness, remember those who died, and celebrate increased access to treatment and prevention services.
Aliyu said,
“Nigeria’s success story is evident from the significant dip in the HIV prevalence from 3.4 percent in 2017 to a population-based prevalence of 1.3 percent in 2018.
“As of the end of September 2022, we have 1,619,133 persons on treatment, which represents a significant leap when compared to 838,020 persons in 2017. Our treatment sites have increased from 251 in 2007 to 2,262 in 2020.
New HIV infections gradually declined from 103,404 in 2019 to 92,323 in 2021. There has also been significant growth in key population treatment centres from 10 sites in 2017 with coverage of 16,147 to 118 in 2021 with coverage of over 221,010 individuals.”
He continued by saying that there were 27 molecular laboratory testing centers before COVID-19, but there are now more than 100.
Globally, new HIV infections have fallen by around 32%, and AIDS-related mortality has decreased by about 52% as a result of individuals getting tested, receiving treatment, and being able to live a normal life, according to UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Leo Zekeng.
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