By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra has been named fifth among the states in Nigeria with the highest number of persons living with HIV (PLWHIV).

This is coming on the heels of a recent report released by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has named Anambra State as the fifth with the highest number of persons

According to the report, Anambra State recorded 100,429 cases, raising concerns about the prevalence of the disease in the state.

The NACA report ranking titled ?2024 HIV Spectrum Estimates? ranked Rivers State as having the highest number of HIV cases with 208,767 infections, followed by Benue State with 202,346 cases, and Akwa Ibom State with 161,597 cases. Lagos State recorded 108,649 cases, while Anambra State followed with 100,429 cases.

Other states with high prevalence include Delta, Imo, Enugu, Edo, and Taraba.

While noting that more than two million people are currently living with HIV across Nigeria, it emphasized the need for sustained efforts in prevention, testing, and access to treatment.

According to a government source the increase in HIV cases in Anambra State is as a result of improved testing coverage.

The source observed that out of the over 100,000 people living with HIV in the state, around 98,000 are currently on treatment.

The source said: ?Increased cases mean that we have intensified efforts in testing as many people as possible, including pregnant women. There is also increased awareness and access to HIV testing. We ensure all our health facilities have enough test kits.?

?This development could be attributed to the high number of tertiary institutions and the rising number of pubs in the state, especially around Abakaliki Street in Awka, the state capital,? another source said.

Efforts to reach the heads of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS for further details failed as they were unavailable at the time of filing this report.

The NACA report showed that 1,753,425 people living with HIV know their HIV status, while 1,735,808 PLWHIV are currently on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

The report further highlighted a critical gap in the prevention services, particularly in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Recall that the Director General of NACA, Temitope Ilori, had earlier stated that the country still faces challenges in stopping Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT), linking it to limited access to antenatal care and stigma associated with HIV.

Meanwhile, stakeholders are calling for increased efforts in awareness, testing, and treatment to combat the spread of the disease in Anambra State.

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