Nigeria On The Brink: The Looming HIV Crisis As Global Support Fades -By Abdulsalam Mubarak

In the ever-evolving saga of Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, one issue stands glaringly at the forefront, Human Immunodeficiency Virus. With approximately 1.9 million people living with the virus, Nigeria’s battle against HIV is far from over. Particularly alarming is the state of Akwa Ibom, where the HIV prevalence rate has reached a staggering 5.5%. This equates to about 302,500 people, quite the number for a country already grappling with a fragile healthcare system.

Across the nation, the epidemic is taking different forms. The North-Central region has an estimated 1.9% HIV prevalence, while the South-East and South-West regions hover around 2%. The South-South region, aside from Akwa Ibom, experiences a prevalence of 3.3%. Meanwhile, the North-West, often cited as the most affected region, has a slightly lower prevalence at 1.4%, but the sheer size of its population means the actual number of people living with HIV remains alarmingly high. The North-East region records a similar rate of 1.4%, but the gap in access to healthcare only exacerbates the crisis.

Casual sex, as the statistics suggest, continues to be one of the primary contributors to the virus’s spread. Yet, even as the epidemic persists, solutions to mitigate its effects remain scarce. The highly effective Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) drugs, which can suppress the virus and prevent progression to AIDS, are often out of reach for many Nigerians due to their high costs and limited availability. This lack of accessibility has left the country heavily reliant on foreign aid and donations, an arrangement that, in the face of shifting global dynamics, may soon become unsustainable.

Enter the United States’ recent decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), an announcement that reverberated through the corridors of global health organizations. With this move, America will cease providing essential support and materials to countries under the WHO’s umbrella, leaving nations like Nigeria to fend for themselves. As a result, the already precarious situation for people living with HIV in Nigeria may become downright catastrophic. Without access to ART drugs, many individuals will inevitably face the harsh realities of full-blown AIDS, resulting in an increase in mortality rates.

This would be nothing short of a public health disaster. ART drugs are not only critical for managing HIV but also play a key role in preventing the virus from spreading. However, as the situation stands, without access to these life-saving treatments, the trajectory seems grim.

Given this looming crisis, the urgency for individuals to practice safe sex and undergo proper medical screenings cannot be overstated. If you aren’t already HIV-positive, now would be a good time to consider all precautions. The health of millions may depend on it.

But this crisis isn’t just about individual responsibility, it’s about collective action. It is high time for the Nigerian government and other African nations to declare a state of emergency on health matters such as this. With HIV continuing to ravage the population and access to vital treatment under threat, an immediate and robust response is essential to prevent what could become a full-blown disaster. The stakes could not be higher.

Abdulsalam Mubarak Adio
President, PeaceWay Youth Initiative, an initiative committed to empowering youths through information, advocacy and services.
abdulsalammubarak06@gmail.com