Over 9000 pregnant women tested positive for HIV/AIDS in 2020 - NACA

• 9,999 pregnant women tested positive for HIV/AIDS in 2020

• This was out of the total of 2,504,678 pregnant mothers tested for their HIV status

• Nigeria still accounts for a significant proportion of children living with HIV infection globally

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has raised concern over rising cases of transmission of HIV infection from pregnant mothers to unborn children. 

According to them, 9,999 pregnant women tested positive for HIV/AIDS in 2020 out of the 2,504,678 pregnant mothers tested for their HIV status.

The agency hinged the rise to the lack of utilisation of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services by pregnant mothers. 

Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General of NACA, who stated this in a statement to celebrate the 2021 Children’s Day, challenged HIV positive pregnant mothers to take a moment to think about children living with HIV and their families.

He stated that Nigeria still accounts for a significant proportion of children living with HIV infection globally even though there has been progressing in anti-retroviral coverage for pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS. 

Aliyu said in 2020, Nigeria successfully increased PMTCT service sites to over 6,000, with 37,111 pregnant women receiving antiretroviral treatment. 

He said despite the progress, a lot more should be done to stop children from getting infected with HIV so that Nigeria could have an HIV-free generation.