The Federal Capital Territory has provided life-saving antiretroviral therapy to 61,384 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, surpassing projected targets by 223 percent.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe revealed this on Monday during a press conference in Abuja to mark World AIDS Day 2024.
The event, themed “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV Among Children,” emphasized the need to combat pediatric HIV while safeguarding the rights of all affected by the disease.
“World AIDS Day is a moment to unite in action, raise awareness, support those affected by HIV/AIDS, and honor the memories of those we have lost,” said Dr. Fasawe, represented by Dr. Olubenga Bello, Director-General of the Hospital Management Board.
The reported figure of 61,384 individuals receiving treatment includes 1,048 children, representing 3.8 percent of the total, who are now benefiting from antiretroviral therapy.
The population estimate for the FCT stands at 6.95 million, with an HIV prevalence rate of 1.4 percent—slightly higher than the national average of 1.3 percent.
Fasawe highlighted the FCT’s comprehensive healthcare infrastructure, which includes 122 antiretroviral service points across its six Area Councils, supported by 285 conventional spoke sites and 37 unconventional community-based care locations.
“Our decentralized care model ensures no one is left behind, enabling even remote communities to access quality healthcare close to home,” she explained.
To address pediatric HIV, innovative measures such as mentor mothers have been deployed. These mentors guide pregnant women through care processes, while traditional birth attendants have been trained to prioritize facility-based deliveries and early infant diagnoses.
Initiatives like the Mothers’ Love Party and the AP3 Initiative further bolster programs aimed at preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Additionally, the FCT has increased access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to prevent new HIV infections.
Dr. Fasawe attributed the successes to collaborations with key stakeholders, including the National AIDS and STI Control Programme, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, and organizations like the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Mothers2Mothers.
“Together, we’ve prioritized the needs of key populations—women, children, and vulnerable groups—ensuring that everyone diagnosed with HIV receives the care and respect they deserve,” she said.
Efforts to scale up services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and pediatric care have been pivotal, as has decentralizing service delivery to meet national health targets.
While celebrating the achievements, Fasawe acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by pediatric HIV, calling for sustained efforts to identify cases, link individuals to care, and prevent further infections.
“We remain committed to ending stigma and discrimination, which continue to hinder access to care. Our focus is on protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring every child, woman, and man living with HIV has access to quality care and support,” she affirmed.
The World AIDS Day commemorations will conclude on Tuesday with a road walk from Government Secondary School, Garki, to Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki.
