Essay on control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
Answers
Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world.1 Although HIV prevalence among adults is much less (1.3%) than other sub-Saharan African countries such as South Africa (19%) and Zambia (11.5%), the size of Nigeria's population means 1.8 million people were living with HIV in 2019.2 Recent drops in prevalence estimates for the country has been attributed to better surveillance.3
Nevertheless, UNAIDS estimates that around two-thirds of new HIV infections in West and Central Africa in 2019 occur in Nigeria. Together with South Africa and Uganda, the country accounts for around half of all new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa every year.4 This is despite achieving a 13% reduction in new infections between 2010 and 2019.5
Unprotected heterosexual sex accounts for 80% of new HIV infections in Nigeria, with the majority of remaining HIV infections occurring in key affected populations such as sex workers.6

Six states in Nigeria account for 41% of people living with HIV, including Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Oyo, and Kano.7 HIV prevalence is highest in Nigeria’s southern states (known as the South South Zone), and stands at 5.5%. It is lowest in the southeast (the South East Zone) where there is a prevalence of 1.8%. There are higher rates of HIV in rural areas (4%) than in urban ones (3%).8
Approximately 45,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in Nigeria in 2019.9 Since 2010, AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 35% to 2019, and 89% of those with a positive diagnosis in Nigeria are accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART).10
Answer:
“With 3.7% of the population infected HIV/AIDS and thousands dying annually it is apparent that Nigeria’s concerns with HIV prevalence are disproportionately greater than that of the rest of the world.” Nigeria’s extreme cultural, socioeconomic, and religious diversity gives it a unique position as a microcosmic country dealing with the spread of HIV/AIDS. Because of its great diversity and similarity among other African nations, any success Nigeria has regarding HIV policy is likely to be duplicated by other nations in Africa and around the world. Over the past decade Nigeria’s policies concerning HIV/AIDS have been polarized. From 2005-2009 Nigeria’s HIV policy placed great emphasis on condom promotion as a method for halting the spread of HIV and preventing unwanted pregnancies. “In 2007 alone, nearly 180 million condoms were distributed through workplace programs, community mobilization, awareness events, health clinics, and through the private sector social marketing programs”. Since this time Nigeria has adopted a new policy for the years 2010-2015. This policy is a multi- pronged attack against the spread of HIV. Its main methods for halting this epidemic include: education and promotion of condom usage, and addressing biological related transmission (“dirty transfusions/needles” and mother to child transmissions). In this essay I will both address and criticize these policies.
Despite the Catholic Church’s new lift on its former ban on condoms, religious conservatives in Nigeria have been fierce opponents to condom usage and promotion by the Nigerian Government. In 2008 The Integrated Regiona...