As the world prepares to mark World AIDS Day on December 1, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has issued a powerful reminder that the global fight against HIV remains unfinished, despite decades of progress.
The organisation’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, delivered this message in a press statement emphasising that 1.3 million new HIV infections still occur globally each year. This, he noted, underscores the persistent gaps in prevention, treatment, and access to care.
In commemoration of the day, AHF Nigeria said it will host a major outreach event in Keffi, Nasarawa State, featuring a road walk, community sensitisation activities, and an extensive health awareness campaign targeted at young people and the general public.
The organisation’s annual commemoration is designed to promote prevention, testing, treatment literacy, and solidarity with individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Media Engagement: Strengthening the Narrative Around HIV
In the lead-up to World AIDS Day, AHF Nigeria convened a media breakfast session in Abuja on November 27, aimed at reinforcing the essential role of journalists in shaping public perception and driving informed discourse on HIV/AIDS.
Aborisade stressed that the media’s influence on public understanding remains decisive in combating stigma and misinformation.
Representatives from key national institutions – including the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), and the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ASHWAN) – attended the engagement.
Their presence underscored a collective commitment to improved collaboration, evidence-based reporting, and sustained advocacy around HIV prevention and treatment.
Road Walk and Youth-Centered Outreach in Keffi
On December 1, AHF Nigeria and its partners will lead a road walk from Keffi city centre to the Nasarawa State University, where students, civil society groups, Red Cross members, and community-based organisations will join the awareness procession. Traditional dancers and skaters will animate the parade, helping to draw community interest and deepen participation.
At the university, health experts will deliver talks on HIV prevention, combination therapy, new treatment innovations, and the importance of routine testing. Free condoms and educational materials will be distributed throughout the event.
To broaden the reach, AHF teams across other states will take to radio stations to discuss emerging trends in HIV treatment – including long-acting preventive therapies – while providing free HIV testing and condom distribution.
Expanding Youth Access to Healthcare
Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria’s Country Program Director, highlighted the organisation’s renewed investment in addressing sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young people.
He noted that AHF recently opened new Wellness Centres in Abuja and Benue, designed to make sexual health services more accessible and youth-friendly.
“Our decision to programme for adolescents and young people is the reason we are partnering with the Keffi State University,” Ijezie said. “We want to expand access for students and empower other youths to take charge of their health.”
This focus on youth is especially critical as data continues to show rising HIV infections among young women and adolescents across Africa.
Global Perspective: Persistent Inequalities Slow Progress
AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Martin Matabishi, echoed concerns about rising infection rates and the continuing vulnerability of young people.
“Africa has made great strides against HIV, but rising infections remind us that the fight isn’t over,” Matabishi said.
“We must embrace inclusive health policies, promote combination prevention, and empower communities to lead the fight against stigma and inequality.”
He also drew attention to the growing threat of what he termed “pharma greed”, noting that exorbitant pricing of new HIV prevention technologies – such as long-acting injectables – keeps life-saving options out of reach for low- and middle-income countries.
According to Matabishi, true global progress requires pharmaceutical companies to put people before profit, ensuring equitable access to innovations meant to save lives.
World AIDS Day: A Moment of Reflection and Renewed Commitment
World AIDS Day offers advocates, governments, and communities an annual moment to reflect on the millions of lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses and to honour those who continue the fight for equitable healthcare.
AHF Nigeria’s 2025 theme, “It’s Not Over,” captures the organisation’s insistence that the world must resist complacency. With an estimated 40 million people still living with HIV globally, and pervasive stigma limiting access to services, the need for sustained investment and political will remains as urgent as ever.
As AHF Nigeria mobilises thousands across states, campuses, and communities, the message is clear: The commitment to end HIV must be renewed, revitalised, and rooted in equity.
