1,243 Infected with Hiv in 6 Months in Adamawa-ADSACA

The Adamawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ADSACA) has raised concern over the increasing number of deaths and new infections of HIV in the state. 

According to the agency, about 400 deaths were recorded last year, while 1,243 new infections were reported between January and June 2025.

The agency said the situation is particularly worrisome considering that the demographics of those infected are mostly within the ages of 14 to 35, which is a productive population. 

This was made known during a media engagement with media practitioners in the state on HIV response recently.

The Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at ADSACA, Abdullahi Adamu disclosed that the agency recorded over 2,700 new infections in 2022, more than 2,500 in 2023, 2,227 in 2024, and 1,423 between January and June 2025.

He expressed concern over the rising rate of infections in the state in spite of the availability of preventive measures.  

Adamu called on pregnant women to register for antenatal care, stressing that prevention of mother-to-child transmission remains critical to reducing new infections.

He said “In 2024, 509 pregnant women who registered for antenatal care were enrolled on HIV treatment, out of which 120 were new infections."

Speaking at the occcassion, the Executive Secretary ADSACA, Dr Boniface Gunduri commended the state government for its effort in ensuring that the spread of the disease is mitigated. 

He said the government recently made a purchase of 34,000 Hiv test kits, calling on the public not to hesitate to know their ststus as Hiv test is free.

Dr Gunduri described the media as a key to the fight against the spread of HIV in order to meet up with the United Nation's declarations to end HIV/ AIDS by 2030.

 

On his part, the Zonal Director  National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Northeast, Mr Tobias John attributed the spike in the HIV infections and AIDS related deaths to stop-work order issued by the United States Government in February which affected donor-supported interventions, limiting Nigeria’s capacity to provide treatment and care.

"We faced a very severe consequences with the united States stop-work order that came in February that severely affected entire HIV response; not just tuberclosis and malaria and other sister diseases. " Mr Tobias stated.

Mr Tobias called for all hands to be on deck in order to win the fight against HIV/AIDS as well as meet the UN target of ending HIV by 2030.

He described discrimination and stigmatization as one of the factors responsible for the spread and charged the media, community leaders, religious leaders  and  members of the public to stop discrimination and stigmatization of those living with HIV.

According to him, HIV is not a death sentence, saying that  people living with HIV who adhere strictly to their medication can suppress the virus and can live healthy, productive lives.

He said that preventive measures for the HIV are abstinence, sex with HIV negative partner, correct and consistent use of condoms, regular testing of HIV, treatment care and support, Post Exposure prophylaxes (PEP) within 72hours  of exposure, PDE-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) etc.   And charged members to desust from indulging in herbal medicine for HIV cure , saying that it is dangerous.

He called on the state government to domesticate the HIV/ AIDS Discrimination Act.