National Agency for the Control of AIDS on Tuesday declared that 3.4 million Nigerians were living with HIV/AIDS.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. John Idoko, stated this at a Senate public hearing on a bill to prohibit discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS.
With the figure, he said Nigeria had the second largest HIV burden globally.
Idoko noted that while the national prevalence stabilised at about four per cent, 13 states still carried higher burden.
Noting that the country was behind target in several important indicators, the NACA boss explained that one of every three people in need was currently receiving treatment.
Idoko, who said only 18 per cent of HIV positive women received prophylaxis against mother-child transmission, noted that more than 40 per cent of HIV positive persons did not know their status.
However, the Senate President, David Mark, who declared the hearing open, called for an end to stigmatisation and discrimination against persons living with HIV.
Mark, represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, said the citizens should be educated more about HIV.
He lamented that many HIV positive people were afraid to go for tests or access necessary treatment because of negative societal behaviour.
He said, “It is important for all to be educated to know that HIV is just like any other disease. Once identified, all a sufferer needs to do is to access treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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