A new report by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has sent shockwaves across the nation and beyond, revealing that over 4,000 young women aged 15 to 24 contract HIV every week. The foundation is now calling for urgent nationwide action, warning that without immediate intervention, Nigeria risks facing a devastating public health crisis.
In a detailed statement, AHF Nigeria described the figure as “alarming and unacceptable,” urging both federal and state governments to intensify HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts, especially among vulnerable young women.
According to the organization, the disproportionate impact of HIV on adolescent girls stems from a combination of limited access to sexual health education, poverty, gender inequality, and gender-based violence.
Health experts from AHF Nigeria emphasized that the crisis goes beyond health — it’s a societal challenge demanding policy reform, education, and empowerment. “Every week, thousands of young lives are endangered by preventable infections. This is not just a statistic; it’s a call to action,” the foundation declared.
The group called for comprehensive sex education in schools, accessible HIV testing centers, and expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). It also urged the media and community leaders to play active roles in breaking the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.
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AHF reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fight against the epidemic, stressing that ending AIDS by 2030 is only possible through inclusive, gender-sensitive, and youth-focused health strategies.
