Adamawa State reports 8,850 new HIV infections between 2022 and 2025, raising concern over rising transmission despite ongoing awareness and prevention campaigns.
The Adamawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ADSACA) has reported a troubling increase in HIV infections in Adamawa State, with 8,850 new cases recorded between 2022 and 2025.
The data underscores a worrying rise in transmission rates despite years of awareness campaigns and access to preventive tools.
During a media interactive session held in Yola, the Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at ADSACA, Abdullahi Adamu, revealed the figures while highlighting the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its HIV/AIDS response.
He said the engagement aimed to deepen collaboration with journalists and community leaders to promote accurate information and positive behavioural change across the state.
According to Adamu, surveillance data over the last three years show a consistent rise in HIV infections in Adamawa State.
“In 2022, the agency documented 2,700 new infections; in 2023, over 2,500; in 2024, 2,227; and by mid-2025, 1,423 new infections had already been confirmed,” he explained.
He described the upward trend as alarming and called for an urgent review of current prevention strategies.
“The fight against HIV requires more than information—it needs personal responsibility and behavioural discipline,” he said.
Adamu noted that preventive options such as abstinence, consistent condom use, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) are widely available but under-utilised.
“We have effective preventive tools, yet many people are not using them properly,” he lamented.
He explained that one of ADSACA’s major goals is to reduce new HIV infections in Adamawa State by increasing community awareness, especially among young people and vulnerable groups.
He also emphasised that stigma and discrimination still discourage many residents from testing or seeking treatment.
To address these challenges, the state government has rolled out extensive public sensitisation campaigns targeting markets, schools, and religious institutions.
Adamu stressed that “HIV is no longer a death sentence,” adding that those who adhere to treatment can live long and healthy lives.
Highlighting progress, Adamu disclosed that over 40,000 people living with HIV are currently on treatment in Adamawa, with about 93% achieving viral suppression—a level that prevents further transmission.
However, he said the agency still recorded 400 HIV-related deaths in 2024, mainly due to late testing and poor treatment adherence.
“People who test early and stay on treatment can live normal lives. Our challenge is getting more people to know their status,” he said.
He added that ADSACA’s renewed strategy focuses on community testing, treatment adherence, and improved access to medication in rural areas, where healthcare facilities are limited.
Adamu also drew attention to the continued risk of mother-to-child transmission, describing it as one of the most stubborn challenges in the state’s HIV response.
He revealed that in 2024, 509 pregnant women who registered for antenatal care were enrolled for HIV treatment, with 180 being newly infected.
“Without proper antenatal registration and hospital delivery, these women could have unknowingly transmitted the virus to their babies,” he said.
He urged pregnant women to register early for antenatal care, assuring them that HIV testing and treatment are free and confidential at all state-approved health centres.
To boost detection, Adamu announced that the state government has procured over 40,000 HIV testing kits, which have been distributed across hospitals, community testing centres, and outreach programmes.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of these services, saying early diagnosis is key to saving lives.
“We want every resident to know their HIV status. Early detection and treatment can prevent the spread and ensure healthier families,” he emphasised.
He also called on community leaders, religious organisations, and youth groups to take ownership of awareness programmes and eliminate stigma associated with HIV.
In his remarks, John Tobias, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the country’s HIV response to ensure sustainability.
He disclosed that a stop-work order issued by the United States government in February 2025 disrupted several donor-funded HIV projects in Nigeria, including treatment and support initiatives in Adamawa.
“This experience shows why we must build a locally funded and community-driven system,” Tobias said.
He described the 1,423 new cases recorded in the first half of 2025 as “avoidable,” insisting that effective treatment remains one of the strongest tools for prevention.
“If every person living with HIV is identified and placed on treatment, there will be little or no room for new transmissions,” he noted.
Tobias appealed to journalists and civil society groups to strengthen their role in public education, stating that the media’s influence is crucial in shaping public perception and correcting misinformation.
He reaffirmed NACA’s commitment to achieving the United Nations 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
“To end HIV infections in Adamawa State and across Nigeria, we need collective action—stronger awareness, youth involvement, and sustained government funding,” he concluded.
Health experts believe that the rise in HIV infections in Adamawa State highlights the need for a renewed community-centred approach that prioritises testing, education, and treatment adherence.
Combating stigma, enhancing youth engagement, and increasing access to reproductive health education remain critical components of this strategy.
The message from ADSACA and NACA is clear: HIV is preventable, treatable, and no longer a death sentence—but victory against the virus will depend on awareness, responsibility, and united action from all residents.
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