Monday, December 1, 2025 - Plateau State has recorded 1,910 new HIV-positive cases between January and September 2025 after screening 98,403 residents, according to Commissioner for Health Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday ahead of World AIDS
Day 2025, he said that 1,859 of those who tested positive have already been
placed on antiretroviral therapy (ART) across health facilities.
He also revealed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang had recently
approved the release of funds for the procurement of HIV dual test kits, which
have now been distributed to health centres to enhance testing.
Addressing the theme for this year’s commemoration,
“Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” Dr. Ba’amlong said
the numbers show that HIV remains a major public health concern in Plateau
State despite progress made over the years. He disclosed that in 2024, the
state recorded 2,786 new infections and 460 HIV-related deaths. He added that
Plateau currently has an estimated 51,370 people living with HIV, with 47,056
on ART as of September 2025, including 14,001 males and 33,055 females. Among
children, 1,835 are receiving ART, 882 boys and 953 girls.
The Commissioner highlighted advances in preventing
mother-to-child transmission, noting that 30,743 pregnant women were tested for
HIV within the same nine-month period and that 39 who tested positive were
immediately linked to treatment. He credited the steady decline in infections
to expanded awareness campaigns, strengthened partnerships, and the extension
of HIV testing services to over 900 health facilities, including faith-based
institutions and traditional birth centres.
Dr. Ba’amlong also announced a national policy shift,
confirming that the Federal Ministry of Health has approved reducing the age of
consent for HIV testing and counselling to 14 years, a move he said would
improve testing among adolescents, who remain highly vulnerable. He reaffirmed
the government’s commitment to scaling up treatment points, ensuring
uninterrupted ART access, expanding youth-friendly services, ending
mother-to-child transmission, combating stigma, and supporting research that
improves prevention and treatment outcomes. He praised healthcare workers,
NGOs, implementing partners and community groups for their efforts, urging them
to remain steadfast. He also encouraged young people to prioritise prevention
and early testing, and appealed to partners to sustain collaboration.
“Together, we can build a healthier, stronger and more inclusive Plateau where
everyone has access to health care,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Plateau State AIDS
Control Agency (PLACA), Mrs. Esther Turaki, joined other stakeholders at a
church service held at St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church in Rayfield, Jos. Turaki,
the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Dennis Mancha, and Ezekiel Afan from the Network
of People Living with HIV/AIDS all urged communities to fight stigma and
discrimination. Turaki encouraged residents to take advantage of World AIDS Day
on December 1 to get tested and commended the church for supporting people
living with HIV. The priest called for continued prayers for those infected and
affected by the virus.
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