NIGERIA: Minister concerned by shock AIDS figures

Some 3.8 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDS and the pandemic had already claimed an estimated 2.3 million people to date, Health Minister Eyitayo Lambo, has said.

The minister said these figures made the West African country, with about 130 million people, one of the hardest hit in the world.

Lambo was quoted by Reuters as saying: "I am very unhappy to report that as of today, Nigeria is still one of the countries worst affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world, next only to South Africa and India, in terms of the number of people living with HIV/AIDS."

Lambo warned that the country's economic growth was under threat, with young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 showing the highest prevalence rate.

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

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