NIGERIA: HIV/AIDS prevalence rising

The Nigerian Veneral Diseases Association has revealed that more than eight million Nigerians are currently HIV-positive.

At a recent annual general meeting, the president of the association, Dr Rasheed Bakare, said while there had been a steady decline of the disease in some African countries, its prevalence was increasing in Nigeria.

Bakare was quoted by a local newspaper, This Day, as saying: "HIV infects and kills our people, tears families apart, destabilises communities, slows development and economies, and disrupts social services."

It is estimated that only 10,000 of the eight million HIV-positive people in Nigeria are benefiting from the government-subsidised therapy.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

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