… As 2,368 adults, 6 infants test positive in 2021
Niger state Commissioner, Ministry of Health Dr. Makusidi Muhammad has disclosed that the HIV prevalent rate has dropped to 0.7 percent with hope of reducing to it to 0 percent.
He said at a press briefing to mark this year’s World AIDS Day in Minna that between January this year till date a total of 2,368 clients are positive in the state.
Speaking on the theme for the year “End Inequality, End AIDS, End Pandemic”, Makusidi said over 90 percent of all HIV positive clients have achieved viral suppression in the state.
According to him “currently, Niger has a prevalence of 0.7 percent which is the lowest in the North Central zone and the Government is committed to ensuring that the HIV prevalence is brought to Zero by the year 2030.
“HIV/AIDS data for the year under review shows that between January 1st to November 30th 2021, a total of 137,834 clients were counselled , tested and received results. Out of these, 2,368 clients were tested positive.
“Currently, the total number of people living with HIV receiving treatment including key population stands at 33,788; a total of 38,227 pregnant women who went for antenatal care were counselled, tested and received results out of which 198 were tested positive.
“For early infant diagnosis, the total number of infants who had a first virologic HIV test stands at 752 out of which only 6 (0.8%) were found to be HIV positive”.
He added that the HIV positive infants are those whose mother’s did not attend antenatal services.
Also, the Commissioner disclosed that there is no case of Omicron variants of the Covid-19 virus in Niger state.