The Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), said Nigeria records 42,700 AIDS-related deaths annually and 1.1 million AIDS orphans.
The National Secretary of the NEPWHAN disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a candlelight event held in Abuja to commemorate lives lost to AIDS and recognise efforts in combating the epidemic.
The National Secretary of NEPWHAN, Nicholas Ugbenyen, stated that of the 42,700 deaths, 14,400 were children and 14,500 were women.
He stressed the urgency of prioritising pediatric HIV prevention and treatment to end AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.
He urged stakeholders to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches in paediatric care to strengthen the country’s HIV response.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, called for an end to stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, emphasizing its role in improving access to care.
She encouraged individuals living with HIV/AIDS to overcome self-stigmatisation, adhere to their medications, and access healthcare to ensure viral suppression.
