Benue, one other have the highest number of people living with HIV – NACA

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has revealed via their latest quarterly factsheet of the that Benue and Akwa Ibom States, have the highest number of people infected with HIV in the Nigeria.

The development is sequel to the report by NACA that reveals that 48 out of every 1,000 persons selected at random in the states are likely to test positive for HIV, which is way higher than the national average, 13 in every 1,000 persons. This brings the HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria to 1.3 percent according to the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS).

The Director-General of NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu, the HIV prevalence disclosed that it is largely first because of behavior then culture.

According to him: “If you look at some communities nationally, because of culture and behaviour, you will see that the prevalence is very high because of the way people live, interact, and the way they socialise.”

Other states like Taraba, Anambra and Abia, have the next highest HIV prevalence rate of 2.6, 2.2, and 2.0 percent respectively. The report shows that states in the North have the lowest HIV prevalence rate.

Ben Idah

Recent Posts

FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Odumodublvck make 2024 BET Hip Hop awards nomination list

Nigerian rapper Tochukwu Gbubemi Ajogwu, known as Odumodublvck, and Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy are proudly…

6 hours ago

Man arrested for tying lover in Abuja hotel

A man has been arrested for tying the hands and legs of his lover in…

8 hours ago

Police hunt pastor over alleged rape of 16-year-old in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command is searching for a pastor, Onyekachi Okoli, who is accused…

9 hours ago

Ibadan: Court remands 11 men over armed robbery

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan has ordered the remand of 11 men in a…

9 hours ago

NAFDAC shuts down Maiduguri drug market over contaminated drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed the Gomboru…

13 hours ago

Jigawa: Police arrest suspected electric cable vandals

The Jigawa State Police Command has apprehended Babangida Abubakar for allegedly vandalizing electric cables in…

14 hours ago