Thousands of Nigerian Children Undiagnosed with HIV

Experts have reported that thousands of Nigerian children remain undiagnosed with HIV, despite ongoing efforts to combat the epidemic. During a meeting on October 25, 2023, stakeholders, including Yusuf Dayyabu from the Society for Family Health and representatives from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, discussed the alarming statistics.

Approximately 260,000 children aged 0-14 live with HIV in Nigeria, with only 45% receiving antiretroviral therapy. The meeting revealed that in 2023, 285,000 children and adolescents from pregnant and breastfeeding women accessed HIV services, but many remain undiagnosed due to gaps in the healthcare system.

Dr. Adebobola Bashorun emphasized the moral imperative to address pediatric HIV, while Dr. Aisha Dadi highlighted the need for targeted interventions to improve early diagnosis and treatment coverage. The reliance on donor funding poses a threat to sustainability, necessitating increased domestic investment in HIV response strategies.