- Over 8,850 new HIV infections in Adamawa State were reported within four years, showing a steady increase in cases.
- ADSACA says about 40,000 people living with HIV are currently on treatment, with 93% achieving viral suppression.
- Health officials urge residents to embrace HIV testing, treatment, and prevention to reduce new infections across communities.
- NACA calls for collective action, stressing that ending new HIV infections by 2030 requires local responsibility and reduced donor dependence.
The Adamawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ADSACA) has raised alarm over the increasing number of HIV infections in the state, revealing that 8,850 new cases were recorded between 2022 and 2025.
Mr. Abdullahi Adamu, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at ADSACA, made this known during a media engagement held in Yola. He said the interactive session was organised to strengthen collaboration with journalists to increase public awareness and promote behavioural change in HIV prevention.
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Adamu explained that surveillance data from the last four years showed a consistent rise in new HIV cases. “In 2022, we recorded 2,700 new infections; in 2023, over 2,500; in 2024, 2,227; and between January and June 2025, 1,423 new infections have already been reported,” he said.
He described the trend as worrying, especially considering the availability of effective preventive measures such as abstinence, consistent condom use, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Adamu called for a total review of the state’s HIV response plan to strengthen preventive strategies and expand access to testing and treatment.
He noted that more than 40,000 people living with HIV in Adamawa are currently receiving treatment, with about 93% achieving viral suppression. However, he lamented that 400 HIV-related deaths were still recorded in 2024.
The director also urged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics, stressing that early detection and treatment prevent mother-to-child transmission. “In 2024, 509 pregnant women were enrolled on HIV treatment, including 180 who were newly diagnosed. Without hospital delivery, many could have unknowingly passed the virus to their babies,” he said.
Adamu added that the state government had procured over 40,000 HIV test kits and encouraged residents to take advantage of free testing available at hospitals and community health centres.
Also speaking, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Mr. John Tobias, emphasised the need for Nigerians to take ownership of the HIV response. He noted that the temporary suspension of donor-funded projects earlier in the year had exposed the need for local sustainability.
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“This is a reminder that we must take responsibility for our own health,” Tobias said. “If everyone living with HIV is identified and placed on treatment, there will be no opportunity for further transmission.”
He described the 1,423 new infections recorded in the first half of 2025 as preventable and urged stakeholders to work towards the national goal of ending HIV transmission by 2030. Tobias also appealed to journalists to play an active role in educating the public and promoting safer health practices.
