Health experts have said that with advancements in science and modern medical technology, an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence but a manageable long-term condition.
The Chief Executive Officer of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Prof. Prosper Okonkwo, stated this on Friday in Abuja during activities marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary. The event also served as a reflection on Nigeria’s progress in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic since the early 2000s.
Okonkwo noted that what once represented near-certain mortality has now become a controllable health condition due to the availability of antiretroviral drugs, improved access to treatment, and sustained investment in public health systems.
He recalled the early phase of the epidemic in Nigeria, describing it as a period marked by fear, widespread deaths, and limited treatment options.
According to him, “In 2000, an HIV diagnosis in Nigeria was, for most people, a death sentence. Antiretroviral drugs were not widely accessible, and there was no clear path to viral suppression.
“The idea that an HIV-positive person could live normally, marry an HIV-negative partner, and give birth to HIV-free children was not something people talked about. Survival was the only concern, and many patients lived in silence and fear.
“Communities were devastated, families were losing loved ones, and the stigma was overwhelming. It was in that environment that APIN was established. Today, that reality has changed—HIV is no longer a death sentence.”
He further explained that Nigeria has recorded significant progress in HIV management, with many patients now living healthy and productive lives.
“Today, people living with HIV can achieve viral suppression, live normal lives, have families, and contribute meaningfully to society without the virus defining their existence,” he added.
Okonkwo stressed that the progress recorded over the years was not accidental but the result of consistent collaboration between government agencies, development partners, and health organisations.
“We did not get here by chance. It has taken decades of science, advocacy, funding, and programme implementation. APIN has been part of that journey from the beginning,” he said.
Over the past 25 years, APIN said it has contributed significantly to strengthening Nigeria’s health system by training healthcare workers, improving laboratory services, and expanding access to HIV treatment across both urban and rural communities.
Also speaking, the organisation’s Director for Strategic Information, Uche Okezie, addressed concerns over global funding cuts affecting HIV programmes.
He noted that while funding challenges remain a global issue, efforts are ongoing to ensure continued access to treatment.
“Yes, there is a funding challenge due to global reductions, but over 1.6 million people have been placed on antiretroviral treatment,” he said.
Okezie added that APIN alone currently supports over 314,000 patients on treatment, with improved outcomes compared to earlier years when access was highly limited.
“Today is different. In the past, people waited for others to die before they could access treatment, but now the system is far more responsive,” he said.
He further disclosed that about 96 per cent of patients on antiretroviral therapy have achieved viral suppression, describing it as a major public health achievement.
In another presentation, APIN Associate Director of Strategic Information, Dr Mikhail Obaje, revealed that 83,289 pregnant women and children tested positive for HIV across five states and were placed on treatment as of March 2026.
The affected states include Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, and Benue.
Obaje noted that between 2016 and 2026, nearly three million pregnant women were tested for HIV, with 60,704 confirmed positive and immediately placed on treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
He also stated that over 2.5 million children and adolescents were screened within the same period, leading to the identification and treatment of 22,585 HIV-positive children.
According to him, APIN currently operates directly in five states but maintains a broader programme footprint across 30 states in Nigeria.
The organisation emphasised that these figures reflect both the scale of Nigeria’s HIV burden and the significant progress made in prevention, treatment, and care delivery nationwide.
HIV No Longer a Death Sentence — Health Experts
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