AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, an NGO, has opened a youth-focused Wellness Centre in Abuja and Benue to expand Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) prevention, testing and treatment services as infections continue to rise among adolescents and young people.
AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr Echey Ijezie, disclosed this at a media engagement on Thursday in Abuja, ahead of the 2025 World AIDS Day (WAD) commemoration.
Ijezie said the establishment of the centres aims to strengthen the response to the increasing rate of infections. He explained that the initiative was designed to provide safe, youth-friendly spaces where young Nigerians could access timely care, counselling and comprehensive sexual health support.
“AHF Nigeria recently opened a wellness centre in both Abuja and Benue, as a response to the rising waves of STIs among adolescents and young people.
“Our decision to programme for this population is the reason we are partnering with the Nasarawa State University, to expand access for students and empower other youths to take charge of their health”, he said.
He added that the organisation would hold sensitisation exercises and campaigns across the states. He also said that “The work to end HIV/AIDS is not over, which is evident by the 1.3 million new infections occurring globally each year.
“The commemoration will promote awareness, prevention, testing and care while showing solidarity with those impacted by HIV/AIDS in the community and beyond. World AIDS Day is observed annually on Dec. 1,” he said.
Ijezie said that despite the decades of progress, around 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV, with women and girls accounting for more than half of those affected.
“Stigma and discrimination continue to prevent many individuals from accessing essential care, while key populations face significant barriers to treatment.
“This WAD event will highlight these ongoing challenges and reinforce the importance of keeping HIV/AIDS at the forefront of national and global public health efforts,” he said.
While stressing the vital role of the media in disseminating information and shaping public opinion, Ijezie urged journalists to amplify issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, STIs and other health concerns.
“Journalists have a huge impact on what societies understand about HIV/AIDS and how they perceive people who are affected by it,” he said.
Notable Progress in Tackling HIV
Also speaking, AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Martin Matabishi, said Africa had recorded notable progress in tackling HIV. He however noted that rising infections—particularly among adolescents and young women—showed that the fight was far from over.
“To overcome disruption and truly transform the AIDS response, we must embrace inclusive health policies.
“There is a need to promote combination prevention, empower and meaningfully collaborate with communities to lead the fight against stigma and inequality.”
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Temitope Ilori, recently stated that Nigeria was on track to meet the 2030 target for ending the epidemic.
Ilori said the country had achieved two of the three global HIV targets for 2030, signalling significant progress in HIV prevention, testing and treatment efforts.
NAN