Background

Since the 1986 first case of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria, many across the population age-groups have been infected by the virus causing the disease, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Drivers of the HIV epidemic in Nigeria have included low risk perception, multiple concurrent partners, informal transactional and inter-generational sex, lack of effective services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and poor quality of health services. Gender inequalities, poverty and HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination have also contributed to the continuing spread of the infection.

Past Reform and Achievements

A seroprevalence survey was conducted in 1999. A Presidential Commission on AIDS (PCA) comprising Ministers from all sectors, with the President serving as Chairperson of the Commission was formed immediately. In 2000, the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) was established to emphasise a multi-sectoral approach to AIDS. NACA prepared Nigeria’s first HIV/AIDS Emergency Action Plan, which included public education on the disease. By 2007, the number of people being treated had gone up appreciably, rising from 81,000 people (15 % of those in need) to 198,000 (26%) by the end of 2007. In 2012 a systemic review of the national response to HIV/AIDS was carried out, key challenges were identified, and based on the premise of the global declaration and the identified continuing challenges to universal access to HIV/AIDS services in Nigeria, the “Presidential Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (PCRP): 2013-2015” was developed. A National HIV/AIDS Research Agenda was established.

PMTCT sites increased from 33 in 2005 to 5,622 in 2013; ART sites increased from 34 in 2005 to 842 as at 2013; and HCT sites from 226 in 2006 to 5191 in 2013. The HIV Prevalence Rate in Nigeria dropped from 5.4% in 1999 to 3.4% in 2013, representing a significant drop of 37%, which is very significant. The number of trained health workers providing HIV services also increased from 4,294 in 2010 to 10,407 in 2013.

Challenges and Next Steps

Government should sustain the priority funding of the fight against the disease to prevent the current insufficient level of funding from making a new epidemic out of the disease. Public education on the disease, which has been generally relaxed, should be reinvigorated. Treatment centres should be extended urgently to many a rural area. Women should be empowered, to enable them make better sexual activities choices. Focus should be further placed on prevention programs.