Nigeria gets N32bn to conduct census of people living with HIV/AIDS

If plans go on well, Nigeria would in the next 6 months, beginning June 2018, be able to tell the world the precise number of its citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

Indications to this development emerged Thursday as the Nigerian government, through the office of the Minister of Health, acknowledged that the United States of America had doled out the sum of $90million, about N32billion, to assist the country conduct a survey on the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, while noting that the survey will take place in 36 States of the country added that the exercise will last about 6 months and would involve a sample size of 170,000 Nigerians.

He said this during the signing of an MOU between the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the US government in Abuja on Thursday. The survey will be tagged, ‘Nigeria AIDS Indicators and Impact Survey.’

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Speaking about the project, reputed to be the largest survey of HIV/AIDS in the world, Adewole said, “The resources for the survey are largely from the US government. Directly, they are giving us about $90m; and indirectly, they are working with other partners to ensure the success of the survey.

“The survey will put behind us the concept of making guess work in terms of burden of HIV disease in Nigeria. We do not know how many people are infected; so, this study will enable us get a precise number.”

He added, “This survey is not only about HIV, but about Hepatitis B and C. This survey will also help us to drive forward the agenda to rid Nigeria of Hepatitis C. As you know, Hepatitis C now has a cure.

“Also, people who test positive will be placed on treatment, as having HIV is not the end of the world.”

 

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