HIV infection rate drops to 2.1% in Abia

• Over 46,000 receive treatment
Abia State has recorded a significant decline in HIV prevalence, dropping from 5.1 per cent in 2018 to 2.1 per cent in 2024, even as 46,788 persons currently receive treatment for the virus across the state.

This was disclosed by the Director of the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ABSACA), Dr Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu, during a sensitisation workshop for Ward Development Committee (WDC) members held in Umuahia.

Citing the latest data, Emma-Ukaegbu said that Ukwa East local council currently leads in prevalence with 2.48 per cent, followed closely by Ikwuano (2.38 per cent) and Obingwa (2.29 per cent). While acknowledging the decline as a positive trend, she warned against complacency and called for increased community engagement to sustain the progress.

“The drop in prevalence is commendable, but we must not relent. We need to intensify our efforts at the grassroots through awareness, testing, and treatment to reach epidemic control,” she said.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) estimates that 1.9 million Nigerians are currently living with HIV, with 75,000 new infections and 45,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded in 2023. These national figures highlight the ongoing urgency of the epidemic despite gains at the state level.

Emma-Ukaegbu urged members of the WDCs to champion town hall meetings, community sensitisation, and faith-based outreach programmes to deepen awareness and access to HIV services, particularly in rural areas.

In his remarks, ABSACA’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Chinedu Iroh, emphasised the importance of prevention strategies, including the consistent use of condoms, regular testing, and prompt linkage to care.

Also speaking, a public health advocate and resource person at the workshop, Mrs Ekeoma Akidi, condemned the stigmatisation of people living with HIV, describing it as a major barrier to testing and treatment.

“Stigma discourages people from coming forward. We need to foster a supportive environment. Community, religious, and traditional leaders must play active roles in changing perceptions,” she noted.

Participants were encouraged to take ownership of the fight against HIV in their various wards, and to serve as links between health authorities and the local population in addressing myths, misinformation, and discrimination.