The NACA Director-General, Dr Gambo Aliyu, made this known
at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja in commemoration of the World AIDS
Day, themed, ‘Equalise to End AIDS: Equal Access to Treatment and Prevention
Services.’
Aliyu said this year’s WAD seeks to promote equal access
across among the vulnerable and affected population groups by removing
economic, social, cultural, and legal barriers to HIV prevention services.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, and if
left untreated, can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency 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 per cent in 2017 to a
population-based prevalence of 1.3 per cent 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 added that the pre-COVID-19 molecular laboratory testing
sites were 27 but they had increased to over 100.
According to the Country Director of UNAIDS, Dr Leo Zekeng,
globally, new HIV infections have declined by about 32 per cent and
AIDS-related mortality have decreased by about 52 per cent because people are
being tested, put on treatment, and can live a normal life.
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