Double burden of HIV and

Anew research to study the burden, prevalence and incidence of noncommunicable diseases among people living with HIV/AIDS is underway.

The study is a cohort research in which 200 people living with HIV will be registered, alongside another 200 negative for HIV.

They will be registered and tested periodically for noncommunicable diseases for two years.

Starting with Kubwa Hospital as first site, the research will expand to other sites including University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nyanya General Hospital, Asokoro District Hospital and Police Clinic.

“The aim is to characterize the burden, prevalence and incidence of noncommunicable diseases in people living with HIV,” said Professor Alash’le Abimiku, executive director of International Research Centre of Excellence, an arm of IVN, conducting the study.

“People living with HIV are living longer, getting to that age when they develop noncommunicable diseases.”

Equipment for the diagnostics have been donated by ISN Medical, regarded the biggest supplier of systems for clinical chemistry, immunoassay and molecular diagnostics, has donated diagnostics equipment to be used in the study.

It is the first time a local donor is investing in local research by IHVN.

“The motive for this particular donation is not necessarily in terms of financial gain to ISN but it is in terms of capacity development and local funding for our research here in Nigeria. It is to develop the local content,” said Vitalis Echebiri,