NACA Raises Alarm Over 45,000 New HIV Cases, Says No Cure Yet

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has disclosed that Nigeria recorded about 45,000 new HIV infections last year, even as it warned that there is currently no scientific cure for the virus despite advances in prevention and treatment.

The agency’s Director-General, Dr Temitope Ilori, made this known during a media training on HIV prevention organised in partnership with the World Health Organisation and other stakeholders.

Dr Ilori stressed that while a cure does not exist, effective prevention options are available, including daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, injectable cabotegravir administered every two months, and the newly introduced lenacapavir, which is given once every six months.

She emphasised that PrEP is a prevention strategy for people who are HIV-negative and should not be mistaken for a treatment for those already living with the virus.

She explained that lenacapavir is currently being implemented under a pilot programme in selected states and is not yet commercially available in Nigeria.

“There’s no market price to it as of today. You just need to link up with the facilities that are offering these injections and get it free of charge,” Ilori said.

She added that no major side effects had so far been recorded among participants in the pilot.

The NACA boss expressed concern over rising infections among young people, attributing part of the challenge to inadequate access to accurate information.

She urged journalists to intensify public education and tackle persistent myths, clarifying that HIV cannot be transmitted through hugging, handshakes, sharing offices or mosquito bites.

She stated that the virus is transmitted through infected blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child where appropriate treatment is not provided.

Also speaking, WHO Technical Officer, Dr Oluwafunke Odunlade, disclosed that HIV prevalence stands at 1.3 per cent among Nigerians aged 15 to 49 and 1.4 per cent among those aged 15 to 65.

She stressed that anyone seeking PrEP must first test for HIV because the drugs prevent infection but do not treat established HIV.

She also cautioned that PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, making condom use essential.

Dr Ilori reiterated that effective antiretroviral treatment remains available free of charge at government health facilities.

She urged Nigerians to know their HIV status, embrace available prevention options, adhere to treatment and reject stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.