3.2 Million Nigerians Living with HIV – UNICEF
……Says Nigeria Second Highest in the World
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has disclosed that about 3.2 million of the 36.7 people living with HIV globally are from Nigeria.
With the above figures, Nigeria has the second-largest number of people living with HIV.
Dr. Idris Baba, Officer in charge (OiC) of UNICEF Kaduna Field Office made this known on Monday in Kaduna, North West, Nigeria at an event to commemorate 2017, World AIDS Day.
Dr Baba, an HIV/AID specialist, said in 2014 in Nigeria, the HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15-49 was 3.2% percent.
According to him, “the 2017 theme which is “Right to health” is aimed at drawing global attention to the need for all the 36.7 million people living with HIV globally (and the thus, the 3.2 million in Nigeria) and those who are vulnerable and affected by the epidemic, to reach the goal of universal health coverage.
“It’s an opportunity
for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
“The HIV epidemic in Nigeria is complex and varies widely by region. In some states, the epidemic is more concentrated and driven by high-risk behaviours, while other states have more generalized epidemics that are sustained primarily by multiple sexual partnerships in the general population.
“Youth and young adults in Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to HIV, with young women at higher risk than young men.”
He added that, “according to UNAIDS data of 2017, approximately 160,000 people died from AIDS-related llnesses in Nigeria in 2016. Since 2005, the reduction in the number of annual AlDS-related deaths has been minimal, indicative of the fact that only half (51%) of those living with HIV in Nigeria are accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) (NACA 2015 NSP review report).
“National data (from NACA, 2015) suggests that 4.2% of young people (ages 15-24) are living with HIV. Awareness of HIV prevention is higher among young men than women.
“In the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey, 70% of young men (ages 15-24) were aware that using a condom can reduce the risk of HIV transmission compared to 56% of their female peers.
“For various reasons, from gender, biological to socioeconomic, young women have a higher HIV prevalence and are infected earlier in life than men of the same age group.
“In 2016, more than 46,000 young women were infected with HIV compared to 33,900 young men
Early sexual debut is common in Nigeria, which begins at less than 15 years old for 15% of
Nigeria’s youth.”
Dr. Baba noted that, the above situation is one factor that increases HIV vulnerability among young people alongside very low HIV testing rates-only 17% of young people know their HIV status, and
less than 10% in Kaduna state as at 2016.
“In 2001, Kaduna recorded a prevalence of 5.6%. This went up to 7% in 2007, Following
sustained coordinated prevention programming in Kaduna, prevalence has consistently
declined. The last sentinel survey of 2014 indicated that the state prevalence is now at 2.2%.” He said.
He however assured that UNICEF is committed to supporting Kaduna state to tackle the situation to a halt, using evidence
innovation and participation, especially of the adolescents and young people.
“In the last few years, UNICEF has committed to supporting Kaduna State achieve its elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV dream by saturating the identified 14 high MTCT burden LGAs of Chikun, Igabi, Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kagarko, Kauru, Lere, Sanga, Soba, Zongon Kataf, Sabon Gari and Kaduna South with PMTCT services.” The UNICEF OiC, added.
