The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have raised concerns over rising HIV infections in Nigeria, particularly among young people, urging Nigerians to embrace prevention measures, regular testing and treatment adherence.
NACA Director-General, Dr Temitope Ilori, disclosed that Nigeria recorded about 45,000 new HIV infections in the past year, describing the trend among young people as a major concern.
Ilori spoke in Lagos at a national training for journalists and social media influencers on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), organised by NACA in collaboration with WHO.
She said misinformation, stigma and declining condom use were undermining HIV prevention efforts, stressing the need for accurate public information to dispel misconceptions about the virus and available prevention options.
According to her, although there is currently no cure for HIV, effective prevention and treatment options are available.
“As of today, there is no cure for HIV,” Ilori said, while urging Nigerians to take advantage of available preventive measures, including oral PrEP, injectable PrEP and condoms.
She explained that oral PrEP is taken daily, while long-acting injectable cabotegravir is administered every two months. She also identified lenacapavir (LEN PrEP), administered every six months, as a significant development in HIV prevention.
Ilori said NACA was working with development partners to expand access to long-acting PrEP across the country.
She clarified, however, that LEN PrEP is still under a pilot programme in Nigeria and is currently available free of charge at participating health facilities rather than being commercially sold.
The NACA boss urged Nigerians to know their HIV status and encouraged people living with the virus to commence and remain on treatment.
“We need people to know their status. We need people to get tested. We need people that are positive to access medication and to stay on medications,” she said.
She also urged young Nigerians to practise safer sexual behaviour, including abstinence where possible, faithfulness to one partner and consistent condom use.
Speaking at the event, WHO Technical Officer for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STI at the WHO Country Office in Nigeria, Dr Olufunke Oduwale, explained that PrEP works by preventing HIV from establishing itself in the body following exposure.
Oduwale stressed that adherence was critical, warning that PrEP must be taken according to the prescribed schedule to provide effective protection.
She said HIV prevention efforts should also address other sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
Oduwale advocated integrated healthcare services that would allow people to access HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria and sexual and reproductive health services during the same visit.
WHO said Nigeria had assessed more than 70 public health facilities across 10 states to determine their readiness for injectable PrEP, as efforts intensify to expand access to HIV prevention services for people at substantial risk of infection.
