Despite significant progress in reducing HIV/AIDS infections and related deaths, the stigma persists, particularly in workplace environments, reports UNAIDS. Nigeria aims to further address this issue through collaboration with the United Nations and conscientising the population on socialising with infected persons.
As Nigeria moves closer towards reaching the UNAIDS 95-95- 95 Fast track strategy, monitoring of the epidemiology of recent HIV infections will allow the country to adjust the public health response to sub-populations and locations where high levels of transmission may be occurring.However, this approach is still hampered by the stigma faced by people living with hiv. To support efforts to combat new infections, the Nigerian government and UNAIDS agreed at a meeting on March 12, 2024, to set up a support program for people living with the virus to enable them to integrate into the workforce and gain easier access to treatment.
“Stigma and discrimination in the context of Aids response will increase people’s vulnerability. It will deter people from having access to services. You may have health facilities and drugs around but because of the stigma and the discrimination especially from the healthcare professionals, they will not take the drugs nor get virally suppressed. They will so die or continue transmitting the infection.”
Leopold Zekeng, Country director and representative, UNAIDS – Cameroon
Estimates from 2023 Spectrum placed the number of people living with HIV in Nigeria at 1,910,405. AIDS-related deaths in Nigeria have been estimated to be around 49 000 across all age groups in the year 2020 alone.Globally, Nigeria ranks third among the countries with the highest number of People Living with HIV (PLHIV). This has over the years acted as a catalyst of anti social cohesion, a situation the government tends to school the population against.
“We want to make sure by next year we attain 95-95-95 and we are determined to see that happen.”
Gambo Aliyo, Director general, National Agency for the Control of AIDS – Nigeria
According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, more women than men are HIV positive in Nigeria. 960,000 women equating to 56 per cent, live with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, while 650,000 men aged 15 and above live with the disease.