The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) has revealed that about 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occur each year in Nigeria.
The Director-General, NACA, Mrs. Temitope Ilori, spoke during an advocacy visit focused on achieving an AIDS-free generation and building a sustainable HIV response yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ilori, represented by Dr. James Anenih, Director, Community Prevention and Care Service, noted that approximately 140,000 children between the ages of 0 to 14 were living with HIV.
She added that 22,000 new HIV infections had been recorded so far this year and expressed concern over the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT); paediatric HIV coverage remains below 33 percent of the 95 percent target.
She said Nigeria continues to face a significant challenge in preventing mother-to-child transmission of disease and thanked the Ogun State Government for equipping selected health facilities to provide antiretroviral therapy.
She, however, expressed concerns that the state has a higher prevalence of 1.6 percent than the national average of 1.4 percent and the South West average of 1.2 percent.
“We acknowledge the great work your excellency has done in upgrading and equipping selected health facilities to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 22 sites in 2019 to 28 sites in 2023.
“Also, the commissioning of the one-stop-shop and community ART (CART) in Ogun East and Ogun West.
“It is imperative to note that Ogun State has an HIV prevalence greater than the national average of 1.4 percent and the South West average of 1.2 percent.
“There is an urgent need to halt and reverse the prevalence in the state from its current level of 1.6 percent,” she said.
Ilori said no child in Ogun State should be born with HIV, just as she tasked all pertinent partners to compile a comprehensive line list of children affected to expedite the country’s paediatric ART programme.
“The expectation is to have an AIDS-free generation at this point we are trying to make sure that all hands are on deck.
“We’re looking at all of the various resources available to us and holding ourselves accountable, so we can do more with reducing mother to child transmission or reducing the number of children born HIV positive,” he added.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, stressed that the state’s HIV prevalence rate was critical.
She commended the agency for visiting and inaugurating an 18-man PMTCT and paediatric ART committee.
She said the committee would supervise the care of HIV-positive pregnant women to ensure that they do not have sufficient virus to infect their unborn children.
Coker added that the committee would also place children who are positive on treatment to avoid the spread.
NACA said in 2023 alone, Nigeria recorded 75,000 new HIV infections and 45,000 HIV-related deaths.