26,000 Children Infected With HIV In 2023 With 15,000 Deaths, Says NACA

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has said that 26,000 children were newly infected with HIV/AIDS in 2023, and 15,000 children aged 0–14 died from HIV-related illnesses.

The Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, made these remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting following the inauguration of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Acceleration Committee at the Ministry of Health in Osogbo, Osun State, on Thursday.

She underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the epidemic.

The initiative supports Nigeria’s strategic objective of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and achieving an AIDS-free generation by 2030.

“HIV/AIDS continues to be a major public health challenge,” Dr. Ilori stated, adding, “In 2023, 26,000 new infections were recorded among children aged 0–14, and 15,000 children in the same age group died from AIDS-related illnesses.

“To reverse this trend, it is essential that state governments, local authorities, and relevant agencies work together.”

The committee’s focus will be on addressing treatment gaps for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV.

Efforts will be made to prioritise improving PMTCT services, expanding pediatric HIV care, reducing new infections in children, and enhancing health outcomes for HIV-exposed infants.

“The formation of this committee demonstrates our renewed commitment to tackling these challenges.

“Our goal is to close the gaps and ensure that no child is born with HIV in Nigeria,” Dr. Ilori explained.

She added that similar committees were being established nationwide to create a unified approach to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission.