Breaking: Nigeria named as the second highest HIV infected country, after South Africa

AIDS Health Care Foundation, AHF, has
claimed that Nigeria has the second highest
burden of HIV, after South Africa.
A release issued on Friday by Kemi
Gbadamosi, AHF Senior Manager, also
claims that only about 45 percent (about 70
million) of Nigerians are aware of their HIV
status. The release quoted Dr Adetayo
Towolawi, the Country Programme Manager
of AHF Nigeria, as saying that 45 percent
was quite low judging by Nigeria’s
population size.
Already, Towolawi said that 3.4 million
people were living with the virus in the
country, and further observed that
achieving an AIDS-free generation was
possible if more people knew their status
and those found positive placed on
treatment.
He disclosed that as part of the AHF’s
contribution to Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS
response that his organisation had flagged
off a testing campaign aimed at reaching
15,000 Nigerians with free HIV test.
Towolawi said the campaign would be held
in partnership with state and local
government authorities with the target of
realising the UNAIDS/AHF global goals on
HIV/AIDS. “ The HIV testing campaign is
part of the organisation’s robust prevention
activities for the year and a strategic tool
in ensuring that more Nigerians know their
HIV status. “ As part of AHF Nigeria’s
testing scale up plan, the testing campaign
will target Abuja, Anambra, Benue, Cross
River, Kogi and Nasarawa States.
“In addition to HIV testing, individuals
will also have an opportunity to check their
blood pressure, receive health and wellness
talks among other services. “In the country,
relevant stakeholders and partners are
scaling up testing uptake and AHF Nigeria
is taking measures to consolidate these
efforts and champion community-driven
testing outreaches,’’ Towolawi stated.
The statement also quoted Elizabeth Duile,
the Prevention Programme Manager of AHF,
as saying that the foundation was
committed to ensuring the availability of
HIV testing services in the country. Duile
said the campaign would provide a platform
to educate individuals and communities.
“Ending AIDS starts with a commitment to
act and everyone has a responsibility in
stopping the spread of the virus. “ People
are often reluctant to test for fear of the
result and stigma; today there are
mechanisms in place to check stigma and
discrimination. “This will ensure that
people living with HIV have access to
treatment, care and support,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports
that AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the
largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organisation
in the world and provides health care to
more than 600,000 patients in 36
countries. AHF Nigeria has been operating
in the country