Jigawa Records Lowest HIV/AIDS Prevalence in Nigeria at 0.3%

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Jigawa State has emerged as the state with the lowest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, recording a rate of 0.3% of its population, according to Alhaji Abdulsamad Salihu, State Team Lead of the Society for Family Health (SFH).

Speaking during the official handover of HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs from Heartland Alliance to the Society for Family Health, Salihu commended the commitment of the Jigawa State government, the State AIDS Control Agency (SACA), and other partners for their efforts in reducing the prevalence of the disease.

Salihu emphasized the importance of continuing targeted efforts with Key Populations (KP) to eliminate the spread of HIV and achieve the universal health target by 2030.

The program manager for Jigawa State SACA, Malam Ibrahim Almajiri, highlighted the significant impact of the Heartland Alliance’s three-year intervention in the state, which included health services and support for HIV/AIDS management. He noted that approximately 1,700 people are currently receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), a milestone made possible by collaborative efforts.

In his remarks, the state’s Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Action Committee on HIV/AIDS, Engr. Aminu Usman Gumel, expressed gratitude to Heartland Alliance for its contributions to combating HIV in Jigawa. He lauded the reduced prevalence rate, attributing it to the government’s commitment and teamwork with stakeholders.

Engr. Gumel assured the Society for Family Health of continued robust partnership and pledged the government’s support for their efforts to sustain and further reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Jigawa State.

The event marked a new phase in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Jigawa, with a renewed focus on achieving a disease-free state through strategic collaborations and community engagement.