NACA reacts to HIV spike in Abuja

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS on Sunday countered a Twitter user’s claim that a recent outreach carried out by the Red Cross shows a spike in HIV cases in Abuja.

The doctor with the Twitter handle #Firstdoctors last week shared a tweet saying Red Cross reportedly ran a test on 197 persons in Abuja and that 119 of the tests came back positive with 60 per cent of those tests being males.

NACA, reacting to his Tweet, asked the doctor to confirm when and where the outreach occurred. The doctor appeared not to have the answers to the questions posed and so he deleted his tweet. In a statement released today July 30, NACA said the information is false. The agency added that the false statement has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities that deal with misinformation for appropriate actions.

The statement said, “Statement on high HIV prevalence rates in Abuja: After investigation and reaching out to The Nigerian Red Cross Society (#nrcs_ng), CSOs, CBOs, and other Implementing Partners IPs operating in Abuja, we confirm the statement is entirely FALSE. #HIVPrevention #SafeSex.

“There was no outreach conducted in Abuja, and the claim that 199 people tested positive out of 197 is false. The accurate data shows that Abuja’s HIV prevalence rate remains at 1.3%, while Nigeria has a prevalence rate of 1.3%.

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“Additionally, it is essential to clarify that no outreach anywhere in Nigeria could yield a positive rate of 60%. Such a high prevalence rate is not possible in Nigeria or any other country. The false statement has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities that deal with misinformation for appropriate actions.

“As the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, we are dedicated to promoting safe sexual practices, including advocating for abstinence and the correct use of condoms to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

“However, we strongly condemn the use of false statistics to drive this critical message. It is essential to disseminate accurate information to effectively combat HIV/AIDS and promote public health.

“We urge all Nigerians to be faithful to their partners and consistently practice safe sex to protect themselves and others from HIV and other infections. Remember, health is wealth, and each of us must take responsibility for our well-being.”