UNAIDS: Nigeria has more than half of HIV burden in West, Central Africa

Nigeria has more than 50 percent of HIV burden in West and Central Africa, says a report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

According to the UNAIDS report, there has been little progress in reducing new HIV infections in recent years.

New HIV infections declined by only five percent in seven years and only one in three people living with HIV is on treatment, the report said.

According to UNAIDS, since 2010, AIDS-related deaths have only fallen by 24 percent in western and central Africa, compared to a 42 percent decline in eastern and southern Africa.

UNAIDS warned that the global reaction to HIV is at a precarious stage with new HIV infections emerging in at least 50 countries.

“We are sounding the alarm,” said Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS.

“Entire regions are falling behind, the huge gains we made for children are not being sustained, women are still most affected, resources are still not matching political commitments and key populations continue to be ignored.

“All these elements are halting progress and urgently need to be addressed head-on.”