Health
Ebonyi identifies Abakaliki, Edda, Ohaozara as HIV hotspots as agency intensifies grassroots campaign
Written By: Chisom Onyibe
29 Nov 2025 05:36 AM
Abakaliki, Ebonyi – The Ebonyi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EBOSACA) has named Abakaliki, Afikpo South (Edda), and Ohaozara Local Government Areas as having the highest HIV prevalence in the state, with rates ranging from 0.9% to 1.2%.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the Executive Secretary of EBOSACA, Prince Andrew Iteshi, during the flag-off of the Local Government Sensitisation Tour and free medical outreach in Ezza North LGA headquarters, Ebiaji, as part of activities leading to the 2025 World AIDS Day.
According to Iteshi, Ebonyi State currently has an estimated 18,000 people living with HIV. This marks an increase from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), which recorded a state prevalence of 0.8% (approximately 16,300 persons).
Encouragingly, 94–95% of those living with the virus – about 15,610 individuals have been identified and placed on lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART), which remains completely free across all designated centres in the state.
HIV Prevalence by LGA (updated figures):Abakaliki LGA: 1.2% Afikpo North LGA: 1.0% Afikpo South (Edda) and Ohaozara LGAs: ~0.9% Izzi and Ikwo LGAs: Next highest
Prince Iteshi noted that urban areas generally bear a heavier HIV burden than rural communities, while new cases continue to be detected daily through expanded testing.
“We are closing the gap through door-to-door testing and community mobilisation across all 13 local government areas,” he said.
The sensitisation tour targets traditional rulers, political leaders, women and youth groups, and security agencies to strengthen grassroots prevention efforts.
EBOSACA announced the rollout of injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), administered once every two months for individuals at substantial risk of HIV, a longer-acting alternative to daily oral pills.
Free condoms, harm-reduction programmes (including sterile needles for injecting drug users), and training for barbers, hairdressers, and beauty salon operators on proper sterilisation of sharp instruments are also being scaled up.
Thursday’s event in Ezza North provided free HIV testing, counselling, and general medical services to hundreds of residents, with similar outreaches planned for all LGAs ahead of World AIDS Day.
Despite the progress, reluctance to test remains the biggest challenge.“Many still refuse testing out of fear, stigma, or misinformation. Knowing your status is the first step to protection or treatment,” Iteshi urged, encouraging residents to test at least every three months at any public health facility where services are free and confidential.
He disclosed that the Federal Government, through the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Global Fund, is finalising sustainability plans to enable states like Ebonyi to gradually take full ownership of HIV programming.
EBOSACA called on all residents to take advantage of the ongoing free testing, treatment, and prevention services to drive the state closer to the global 95-95-95 targets and ultimately end AIDS as a public health threat.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the Executive Secretary of EBOSACA, Prince Andrew Iteshi, during the flag-off of the Local Government Sensitisation Tour and free medical outreach in Ezza North LGA headquarters, Ebiaji, as part of activities leading to the 2025 World AIDS Day.
According to Iteshi, Ebonyi State currently has an estimated 18,000 people living with HIV. This marks an increase from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), which recorded a state prevalence of 0.8% (approximately 16,300 persons).
Encouragingly, 94–95% of those living with the virus – about 15,610 individuals have been identified and placed on lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART), which remains completely free across all designated centres in the state.
HIV Prevalence by LGA (updated figures):Abakaliki LGA: 1.2% Afikpo North LGA: 1.0% Afikpo South (Edda) and Ohaozara LGAs: ~0.9% Izzi and Ikwo LGAs: Next highest
Prince Iteshi noted that urban areas generally bear a heavier HIV burden than rural communities, while new cases continue to be detected daily through expanded testing.
“We are closing the gap through door-to-door testing and community mobilisation across all 13 local government areas,” he said.
The sensitisation tour targets traditional rulers, political leaders, women and youth groups, and security agencies to strengthen grassroots prevention efforts.
EBOSACA announced the rollout of injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), administered once every two months for individuals at substantial risk of HIV, a longer-acting alternative to daily oral pills.
Free condoms, harm-reduction programmes (including sterile needles for injecting drug users), and training for barbers, hairdressers, and beauty salon operators on proper sterilisation of sharp instruments are also being scaled up.
Thursday’s event in Ezza North provided free HIV testing, counselling, and general medical services to hundreds of residents, with similar outreaches planned for all LGAs ahead of World AIDS Day.
Despite the progress, reluctance to test remains the biggest challenge.“Many still refuse testing out of fear, stigma, or misinformation. Knowing your status is the first step to protection or treatment,” Iteshi urged, encouraging residents to test at least every three months at any public health facility where services are free and confidential.
He disclosed that the Federal Government, through the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Global Fund, is finalising sustainability plans to enable states like Ebonyi to gradually take full ownership of HIV programming.
EBOSACA called on all residents to take advantage of the ongoing free testing, treatment, and prevention services to drive the state closer to the global 95-95-95 targets and ultimately end AIDS as a public health threat.
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