The AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria has raised alarm over the high HIV infection rate among young women, revealing that approximately 4,000 girls aged 15–24 contract HIV weekly globally.
This is contained in a statement by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr Steve Aborishade, on Wednesday in Lokoja, to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl.
“Globally, adolescent girls and young women face a disproportionate HIV burden.
“In spite of progress, the numbers remain alarming, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,” the statement read.
According to AHF, more than 3,300 of the 4,000 weekly infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In 2023 alone, 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV worldwide.
“This compares to 1.2 million boys and young men in the same age group, highlighting a severe gender disparity in global HIV prevalence among youth.
“Education barriers are also a major concern, with 133 million girls globally out of school, cutting off essential pathways to health, independence, and long-term well-being.”
AHF urged greater investment in HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment, along with improved access to healthcare, especially for adolescent girls and young women.
The organisation also called for actions to address period poverty, promote comprehensive sexuality education, and combat gender-based violence and child marriage, key drivers of health inequality.
(Punch)
