Fighting HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, reports one of the highest adult prevalence rates of HIV in West Africa. Among approximately 130 million citizens, at least four million adults live with HIV/AIDS. Recent studies reveal an alarming rate of increase in cases of HIV infection among children, 90 percent of which is due to mother-to-child transmission. Because so many people carry the virus, Nigeria stands at a vulnerable intersection, facing a much larger AIDS epidemic: recent studies indicate that as many as 15 million Nigerians will be HIV positive by 2010 unless urgent action takes place now.

At present, the government of Nigeria has begun implementing one of the largest antiretroviral programs in Africa, offering treatment services in 25 health-care centers in 17 states. Financing from the Global Fund of US$28 million over an initial two-year period will expand this service substantially, to reach more than 10,000 HIV-infected individuals in the first 12 months and as many as 20,000 more by the end of the two-year period. By linking the expansion of treatment to wide-scale efforts to prevent HIV transmission, the Global Fund grant will augment the government’s existing program for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and offer antiretroviral prophylaxis —to prevent vertical transmission of HIV—and voluntary counseling and testing services to 18,000 pregnant women and their partners. Backing from the Global Fund will also promote the role of civil society in the battle against HIV/AIDS by supporting non-governmental organizations as they coordinate activities and share best practices.

The Country Coordinating Mechanism in Nigeria determined that the most efficient way to manage its new activities supported by Global Fund monies is through existing structures established for a World Bank program. This will avoid duplication of efforts, reduce transaction costs, improve coordination among donorfunded programs and facilitate the scaling- up of activities. In addition to disbursing funds to the government’s National Action Committee on AIDS, the Global Fund will also directly finance the Yakubu Gowon Center for National Unity and the International Cooperation, a large, non-governmental organization that provides home-based care to HIV-positive mothers, their partners and children.