IRIN Focus on HIV/AIDS

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] The HIV infection rate among adult Nigerians rose from 1.8 percent in 1990 to 5.4 percent in 1999, and health officials estimate that 2.6 million of the more than 108 million people in the country now live with the virus. A survey conducted among pregnant women reporting to ante-natal clinics between July and September 1999 showed HIV rates ranging from 0.5 percent in the north-eastern state of Yobe to 21 percent in Otukpo, a town in the north central state of Benue. The survey also showed that there was little or no difference in infection rates between urban and rural areas. "The large pool of infection in Nigeria makes a catastrophic explosion of AIDS imminent," Minister of Health Tim Menakaya said in December when he presented the report of the survey. Reasons for the spread of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) include the failure of previous military rulers to address seriously the dangers the virus poses. The last HIV prevalence study prior to the 1999 survey was done in 1995, and the supplementary budget allocation for AIDS control for 1999 exceeded the total for 1996-1998. Pointing out that the "disease is known to thrive on ignorance and apathy at both private and official levels," Menakaya said the government's health priorities included effective control of HIV/AIDS to catch up on lost time and avert a looming catastrophe. It is estimated that by 2003 there will be about 4.9 million Nigerian adults infected with HIV. So far young people aged between 15 and 24 years appear to be the demographic group hardest hit. The worst affected state is Benue, where HIV-prevalence rose from 2.3 percent in 1995 to 16.8 percent in 1999. According to the latest evidence, HIV has continued to spread rapidly and fresh infections have been noticed among women aged 15-19 years. "A slowdown of infection rates in this group would be one of the first indicators that incidence is decreasing," the report said. A majority of the cases were HIV-1, but there were also cases of HIV-2 and a mixture of the two strains. "It is, however, not clear why HIV-2 and mixed HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections were found mainly in border states," the report noted. [HIV-1 is the strain found throughout the world, while HIV-2 is uncommon outside of West Africa.] Having obtained information on prevalence trends, the Nigerian Health Ministry in collaboration with the UN Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS), the British Department of International Development (DFID), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have started a survey to determine the specific behaviour and attitudes aiding the spread of the pandemic. "Results of the current survey will help us redesign our anti-AIDS campaign strategy and refocus on changing behaviour likely to lead to further spread of the virus," an official of the National Committee on HIV/AIDS told IRIN. President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he will take personal charge of the effort to roll back the disease. His government has embarked on a massive education campaign involving states, local governments and private organisations to alert Nigerians to the dangers at hand. New plans for care and support of the affected are being designed and implemented. In early February, the Lagos State government launched a special HIV/AIDS control programme to encourage voluntary testing for the disease and counselling of infected people among Lagos city's estimated 10 million inhabitants. "Voluntary counselling and testing are very important for preventing stigmatisation of AIDS patients," said Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, former minister of health and head of the Lagos programme. He has been in the forefront of the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign since his brother, renowned musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, died of AIDS-related ailments in 1997. Health Minister Menakaya has also set up a special committee to verify claims by a Nigerian medical doctor and immunologist, Dr Jeremiah Abalaka, to have developed both a cure and a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Patients are being sent to the Abuja-based doctor for clinical trials. Godwin Obla, chairman of the Otukpo local government, told the independent 'Thisday' newspaper: "We intend to take up the gauntlet now and fight this devastating disease." "We are appealing to people not to see it as a sensational story but as one which deserves the sympathetic ears and eyes of everybody," said Obla, who blamed his town's high rate on its position as a transit for long-distance drivers between northern and southern Nigeria.