- The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) placed 61,384 people living with HIV/AIDS on treatment, exceeding its target by 223%
- World AIDS Day 2024 in Abuja focused on addressing pediatric HIV and safeguarding the rights of those affected
- The FCT expanded HIV services through 122 delivery points, mentor mothers, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) announced that it has successfully placed 61,384 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) on treatment.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCT Administration, revealed this at a press conference held on Monday, December 2, in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day.
Fasawe emphasised that this year’s World AIDS Day, themed “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV Among Children,” called for a renewed focus on addressing pediatric HIV and safeguarding the rights of individuals affected by the disease.
The day, observed every 1st of December, serves as a global occasion to unite efforts, increase awareness, support those living with HIV/AIDS, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives to the virus.
Represented by Dr. Olubenga Bello, Director-General of the Hospital Management Board, Fasawe explained that the 61,384 individuals placed on treatment in the FCT represented 223 per cent of the projected number of PLHIV in the region.
This figure also includes people who migrated from neighbouring states. Of the total, 1,048 are children, making up 3.8 per cent of those receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy.
Fasawe noted that the FCT, with an estimated population of 6.95 million, has an HIV prevalence rate of 1.4 per cent, slightly higher than the national average of 1.3 per cent.
She highlighted that the FCTA is actively expanding and strengthening HIV services in the territory through a comprehensive network of 122 service delivery points, offering antiretroviral therapy across all six Area Councils.
In addition to these service points, there are 285 conventional spoke sites and 37 unconventional community-based sites aimed at reaching even the most remote populations. Fasawe emphasised that this decentralised approach ensures that no one is left behind, providing access to quality care and support closer to home.
To address pediatric HIV, the FCT has deployed unique interventions such as mentor mothers, who serve as guides for pregnant women, and trained unconventional caregivers, including traditional birth attendants. These initiatives aim to enhance the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes and ensure early infant diagnosis.
Furthermore, the FCT has expanded access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, ensuring that those without HIV can remain free of the disease. Fasawe credited the success of these initiatives to strong partnerships with organisations such as the National AIDS and STI Control Programme, the National Agency for the Control of Aids, and implementing partners like the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
In her remarks, Fasawe underscored that while significant progress has been made, continued efforts are required to address Nigeria's high burden of pediatric HIV and to prevent new infections. She reaffirmed the FCTA's commitment to ending stigma and discrimination, which remain significant barriers to care, and vowed to intensify efforts to reach vulnerable populations.
NCDC records 39 Mpox cases, zero deaths, intensifies surveillance in Nigeria
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 39 confirmed cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with no deaths recorded. The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, shared this update during a press briefing on Thursday, where mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Idris disclosed that the NCDC is intensifying surveillance efforts across Nigeria to ensure early detection and response to new cases. He also mentioned that all port health services at Nigeria's five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders are on high alert.
