Nigeria has about 1.9 million people living with HIV. This is one of the highest numbers in the world. A big problem is mother-to-child HIV transmission. This means that babies are getting the virus from their mothers before or after birth, or during breastfeeding.
Every day in 2024, over 700 children got HIV, and about 250 children died from sicknesses caused by the virus. This happens mostly because many families can’t get the care and medicine they need. A lot of these children are in Nigeria.
Why Nigeria Is Struggling
Other countries have made progress in stopping HIV transmission. Since 2010, the number of children with HIV has gone down by 62% worldwide. But in Nigeria, the number is still very high. About 25 out of every 100 babies born to mothers with HIV get the virus. This number should be less than 5 if Nigeria wants to meet the World Health Organization’s goal.
Because of this, almost 22,000 babies in Nigeria are born with HIV every year. That’s about one out of every seven babies with HIV in the whole world. These children face many problems, like being poor, not going to school, or not having parents.
Why This Happens
It’s not just the mothers’ fault. The system is not working well. Many pregnant women don’t get tested for HIV during their clinic visits. Less than half of them are tested. Only about two-thirds go to the doctor at least once during pregnancy. Even fewer women take their HIV medicine the right way. Only one in three does it properly.
Nigeria used to have a good plan to stop HIV transmission. In 2011, the country joined the Global Plan, in 2016, they started a new medicine program. In 2018, they brought back programs to stop the virus from spreading from moms to babies. They even asked former First Lady Aisha Buhari to help. But these plans didn’t help as much as they should have.
Since 2010, Nigeria has only reduced HIV transmission by 15%.
Meanwhile, countries like South Africa and Uganda reduced theirs by 70%. Seven other African countries cut their numbers in half. Nigeria is falling behind.
What’s Making Things Worse
Nigeria’s health system has many problems. There are not enough money or health workers. Pregnant women often don’t get tested, medicine is not always available, and doctors can’t easily keep track of moms and babies. Also, rich people in Nigeria often fly to other countries for medical care.
This means the government doesn’t always focus on fixing local hospitals.
From 2015 to 2023, Nigerians spent around $3.6 billion each year going to places like India, the UK, and the US for medical help. At the same time, many doctors are leaving Nigeria to find better jobs in other countries.
How to Fix It
Nigeria needs to act fast. More pregnant women should be tested for HIV. Every mother with HIV must get medicine to protect their baby. Nurses and health workers can use programs that help mothers remember to take their medicine. This will stop HIV transmission.
All records should be kept in one place using computers. This way, clinics can follow up with every mom and baby. Nigeria must also spend more of its own money to fight HIV transmission and make sure the money is used properly.
Churches, mosques, and community leaders can help people understand that there is no shame in getting tested or treated. Also, every state in Nigeria should report how many cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission happen, so they know where help is needed the most.
Conclusion and References
Stopping HIV transmission from mothers to babies will save thousands of lives each year in Nigeria. It will also help the country meet its health goals and keep children healthy. Nigeria is a big country. If Nigeria succeeds, it can help all of Africa make progress too. But it will only happen with strong leadership and better health services.
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