How Nigeria is fighting HIV to finish

igeria has the second highest burden of HIV in the world – second to South Africa according to UNAIDS estimates.

At the end of 2013, 3.2million persons were living with HIV with the national HIV prevalence rate being 3.2%. At the end of 2014, Nigeria had placed over 747,382 people on antiretroviral therapy (ART). A large population of new HIV infections is also through mother to child transmission: the mother to child transmission rate for MTCT was estimated at 27.3% (GARPR, 2014).

At 58% of the PLHIV populations, women are disproportionately affected by HIV in Nigeria. Even among key target populations, women have a higher prevalence rate than men. The prevalence of HIV among female IDUs is almost seven times higher than that of male IDUs [21% vs 3.1%] and higher amongst female police officers [4.5% vs 2.0%] when compared to their male colleagues (IBBSS, 2010). The feminization of the HIV epidemic in Nigeria underscores the critical role of primary prevention of HIV infection in women of reproductive age and their partners.

Coordination structures for the national response to HIV

The response to HIV in Nigeria is coordinated through a three-tier system of administration. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), under the Presidency, leads the coordination at national level. At the state level, the State Agencies for the control of AIDS (SACAs), under the Office of the Governor, are responsible for the coordination of the multi sectoral response on HIV and AIDS. NACA and SACAs coordinate joint planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/ AIDS programmes at the national and state levels respectively. At the LGA level the Local action committee on AIDS (LACA) has similar broad mandate as NACA and SACAs to coordinate the HIV/ AIDS response. The coordination of HIV response across the national and state levels is guided by the “Three Ones” framework thereby promoting effective coordination and efficiency of the response.

Policy frameworks for Nigeria’s response to HIV

The first multisectoral action plan developed by NACA was the HIV/AIDS Emergency Action Plan (HEAP). The HEAP aimed to break down barriers to HIV prevention at the community level and support community-based responses, and provide prevention, care, and support interventions. As a result of developments in the global AIDS response, the National HIV/AIDS Policy (2005) and National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (NSF 2005–2009) were developed to engender a more robust response.

Based on national response review findings and recommendations, these two strategic documents were revised in 2010 and in addition, the National HIV/ AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP 2010 – 2015) was developed. The key HIV/AIDS priorities of the NSP 2010-2015 are linked to the thematic areas identified by the National HIV/AIDS Policy (2010).