No less than 40 million people are currently living with the human immunodeficiency virus worldwide, AIDS Healthcare Foundation National Program Director Dr. Echey Ijezie revealed on Thursday.
This is contained in a statement issued and made available to journalists in Makurdi ahead of the commemoration of World AIDS Day in 2025.
Dr Ijezie lamented that women and girls accounted for more than half of fatal diseases globally.
He revealed that AHF has scheduled a commemorative event in Keffi, Nasarawa State on December 1 to reaffirm that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over, especially with 1.3 million new infections recorded every year worldwide.
He said: “Despite decades of progress in the fight against HIV, around 40 million people around the world are living with the virus, and women and girls make up more than half of those affected.”
It also said stigma and discrimination have continued to prevent many people from accessing essential care, and key populations face significant barriers to accessing treatment.
The program director said AHF will hold a commemorative event in Keffi, Nasarawa State on December 1 to emphasize that the work to end HIV/AIDS is not over; This, he said, is evident in the 1.3 million new infections that occur each year around the world.
“This World AIDS Day event will highlight these current challenges and reinforce the importance of keeping HIV/AIDS at the forefront of national and global public health efforts.”
AHF Nigeria’s World AIDS Day event will begin with a media breakfast in Abuja on November 27 as an avenue to engage the media on its unique role in the effort to defeat AIDS in Nigeria.
The media plays a very important role in disseminating information and forming opinions in any society.
He urged the media to ensure a strong impact on what societies understand about HIV/AIDS and how they perceive people affected by it.
He added that the organization recently opened a wellness center in both Abuja and Benue, in response to the rising waves of STIs among adolescents and youth.
Dr Ijezie said AHF is partnering with Keffi State University to expand student access and empower other young people to take charge of their health.
“Africa has made great progress against HIV, but the rise in infections, especially among adolescent girls and young women, reminds us that the fight is not over,” said Martin Matabishi, head of AHF’s Africa office. “To overcome disruption and truly transform the AIDS response, we must adopt inclusive health policies, promote combination prevention, and meaningfully empower and collaborate with communities to lead the fight against stigma and inequality,” said Dr. Ijezie.
Reports indicated that Nigeria ranks highly globally in its HIV burden, with estimates suggesting that it has the second or fourth highest burden globally, depending on the source and year.
At the state level, Rivers, Benue and Akwa Ibom states consistently show the highest number of people living with HIV.
READ ALSO THE BEST STORIES FROM Newslodge