About 1.9 million people living with HIV in Nigeria, according to Dr. Mary Boyd, the country director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), have access to free medications that could save their lives.
Boyd announced this yesterday in Abuja at the start of a two-day CDC Biannual Program Performance Review Meeting and Symposium with the subject, “Working Together to Bring Nigeria Closer to HIV Epidemic Control.”
According to her: “Today 1.9 million people living with HIV have access to free treatments, and it’s a treatment that is going to save their lives and allow them to live healthy, productive lives.
“The other thing that I was reflecting on, is Americans historically love the underdog, and we root for the underdog, we support the underdog in whatever way and we as the US government have been so proud to be part of the success that Nigeria has had.
“And along the way, we’ve had champions, and those champions are sitting here and also in the audience. So I want to just appreciate you all I want to welcome the CEOs of our implementing partners, I call them the superheroes”.
Also, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire in his keynote address appreciated the USCDC for the milestone achieved in tackling HIV in Nigeria
The 2019 Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey found that 1.9 million people are living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria as of 2018.
However, HIV and AIDS are far more prevalent among people in prisons and high-risk drug users, in particular people who inject drugs (PWIDs). According to recent UNODC studies on HIV prevalence in Nigerian prisons and on drug use in Nigeria, 2.8% of people in prisons and 9% of people who inject drugs (PWIDs) live with HIV/AIDS.
These figures are much higher than the 1.4% prevalence rate among the general population.
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