The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of new child HIV infections in the world.
This alarming statistic was highlighted by UNAIDS’ Deputy Executive Director of the Programme Branch, Angeli Achrekar, at the 2024 Nigeria HIV Prevention Conference in Abuja with the theme: “Accelerating HIV Prevention to End AIDS through Innovations and Community Engagement.”.
Achrekar lamented the slow decline in new HIV infections among children in Nigeria and stressed the need for urgent action to prevent children from living with a preventable virus.
She called for an end to vertical transmission of the epidemic to achieve an AIDS-free generation in Nigeria. “The future of Nigeria’s children cannot be left unchecked; concerted and urgent action must be taken to avert children being consigned to live a lifetime with a virus that is now preventable,” she emphasised.
In addition to the concerning child HIV infection rates, Achrekar also highlighted Nigeria’s failure to adequately address the sexual and reproductive rights of young citizens as a major impediment to the country’s efforts to prevent the spread of HIV.
She emphasised the importance of targeting young citizens in reducing new infections and pointed out that reluctance to address sensitive issues related to their sexual and reproductive needs has affected the effective implementation of prevention programs.
Achrekar stressed the need for urgent action to end the inequalities that fuel the AIDS epidemic, including removing discriminatory laws and changing policies that exacerbate current structural and social inequalities.
