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NIGERIA: AIDS committee neglects rural communities

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 3 October (PLUSNEWS) - Nigeria's National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) was recently criticised for its neglect of rural areas in the country's efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS.

The Nigerian vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, said the NACA's HIV/AIDS awareness programmes, directed mainly at urban areas, were being implemented at the expense of rural communities.

He said despite NACA's activities, much of rural Nigeria remained unaware of the committee's existing programmes for HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

The Pan African News Agency (PANA) quoted Abubakar as saying: "Go to my village. Nobody knows about HIV/AIDS - we are yet to feel the impact of NACA in my village."

Research shows that an estimated 5.8 percent of all adults aged between 15 and 49 in Nigeria are living with HIV/AIDS.

[ENDS]

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