1.8 Million Nigerians Contracted HIV/AIDS Amid COVID-19 Crisis

An estimated population of 1.8 million Nigerians are living with transmittable HIV/AIDS infection, a report by the National Agency for the control of AIDS revealed. The agency, established to monitor, educate and evaluate all HIV/AIDS activity in the country, reported that 13 out of every 1000 random people selected are likely to test positive to the infection.

It also added that only 1.24 million are currently on treatment while 560,000 persons living with the virus are not on treatment. The report, carried out in the 36 states of the federation, placed Akwa Ibom, Benue, Taraba, Anambra, Abia as the highest in number of cases while Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe at the very least.

COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS

Restriction imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the treatment of HIV, as 900,000 deaths against 430,000 deaths are estimated for Sub Saharan Africa due to the six months lockdown interruption, UNADIS said. NACA, however, reported that 25-30 percent of COVID-19 tests were carried out in HIV mega labs as well as HIV mechanisms replicated for COVID-19 response in four states.

Kehinde Ogunyale

Reporting on the data-driven economy, and investigations.

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