By Hadiza Ibrahim
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has debunked a report cited by an online doctor known as First Doctor, that 119 out of 197 people in Abuja, are HIV positive.
First doctor said: “So last week, the Red Cross reportedly ran HIV tests for 197 people in Abuja, Nigeria. 119 of them were positive and 60% of the positive tests were male.
“If you can’t control yourself, use condoms. Just stop playing games with your life.”
In a statement shared on Twitter on Sunday, NACA said while quoting a reply from an enquiry made to the Nigerian Red Cross Society about the referred survey, that it had investigated the information and found it to be false.
It said: “After investigation and reaching out to The Nigerian Red Cross Society, CSOs, CBOs, and other Implementing Partners IPs operating in Abuja, we confirm the statement is entirely FALSE.
“There was no outreach conducted in Abuja, and the claim that 199 people tested positive out of 197 is false. The accurate data shows that Abuja’s HIV prevalence rate remains at 1.3%, while Nigeria has a prevalence rate of 3%.”
The quoted Red Cross reply stated thus: “We have contacted our Abuja, FCT branch and confirmed that such activity was never conducted. It’s unethical for any organisation to disclose the status of their clients/patients.
“The organisation added that the Nigerian Red Cross Society remains committed to providing quality and free humanitarian services to affected population wherever they may be found based on our humanitarian mandate and 7 fundamental principles. But, in this case, this story is false.”
Additionally, NACA said it was essential to clarify that no outreach anywhere in Nigeria could yield a positive rate of 60% as such a high prevalence rate is not possible in Nigeria or any other country.”
It stated further: “The false statement has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities that deals with misinformation for appropriate actions.
“As the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, we are dedicated to promoting safe sexual practices, including advocating for abstinence and the correct use of condoms to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
“However, we strongly condemn the use of false statistics to drive this critical message. It is essential to disseminate accurate information to effectively combat HIV/AIDS and promote public health.
“We urge all Nigerians to be faithful to their partners and consistently practice safe sex to protect themselves and others from HIV and other infections. Remember, health is wealth, and each of us must take responsibility for our well-being.”
