Health
Experts Warn Of Rising Advanced HIV Cases In Nigerian Children
Health experts have raised concerns over the increasing cases of Advanced HIV Disease among children and adolescents in Nigeria, warning that stigma, poor awareness, and limited access to diagnostic tools are worsening the situation.
The warning followed the release of findings by the IMPAACT4HIV Consortium, which conducted research across Lagos, Kano, Rivers, and Gombe states to assess the challenges affecting children living with HIV and their caregivers.
Speaking while presenting the findings to journalists in Abuja on Friday, Executive Director of Support for Women and Teenage Children, Dr Ramat Garra, said many cases of advanced HIV disease could be prevented if there was greater awareness and early access to treatment.
She noted that the study, which used focused group discussions and key informant interviews, revealed that many caregivers and community members had little or no understanding of Advanced HIV Disease or its warning signs.
“In Rivers State, over 60 per cent of community participants showed little to no understanding of AHD warning signs, while caregivers at HIV clinics in Kano said they had never been informed about the condition,” Garra said.
According to her, the lack of awareness often leads caregivers to seek medical help only after the illness has progressed to a critical stage.
She also identified stigma as a major factor contributing to the worsening condition of children and adolescents living with HIV.
Garra said many adolescents stop taking their medications because they fear being seen at clinics, while some parents delay disclosing the HIV status of their children, a situation that allows the disease to advance.
“In Gombe State, three people reportedly died in the past year after stigma pushed them toward herbal remedies instead of seeking medical care,” she added.
The report also highlighted serious gaps in diagnostic capacity in many health facilities, including the unavailability of CD4 count tests, Cryptococcal Antigen tests, and TB-LAM assays used to detect advanced HIV disease.
According to the findings, shortages of testing reagents in Kano caused delays in diagnosis, while some patients with cryptococcal infections in Gombe were discharged without treatment due to a lack of medication.
The consortium further noted that none of the four states studied currently has a standalone policy addressing Advanced HIV Disease, as they all rely on general national HIV guidelines.
Experts warned that the absence of a specific policy framework has resulted in inadequate funding and persistent gaps in the management of advanced HIV cases.
They also pointed to the financial burden faced by many families, noting that while HIV treatment is officially free, indirect costs such as transportation continue to limit access to care.
In Rivers State, for instance, a change in drug pickup frequency reportedly increased transportation costs for caregivers, while in Gombe, some case managers used personal funds to help patients access treatment.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the African Network of Adolescents and Young Persons Development, Aaron Sunday, called on governments, donors, and healthcare providers to intensify efforts to address the growing challenge.
He urged state governments to develop dedicated policies on Advanced HIV Disease with specific budgetary provisions and strengthen adolescent-friendly HIV services.
Sunday also called on the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme and implementing partners to ensure the consistent supply of critical diagnostic tools and integrate AHD screening into paediatric, tuberculosis, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission services.
The IMPAACT4HIV Consortium, which includes the African Network of Adolescents and Young Persons Development, Initiative for Sustainable Community Development, and Support for Women and Teenage Children, said addressing stigma, improving diagnostics, and expanding community awareness would be key to preventing avoidable deaths among children living with HIV in Nigeria.
In a bold move to tackle the growing shortage of medical professionals, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved a significant salary increase for doctors across the state, alongside a new tax-free allowance for house officers.
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, during a press briefing, where he revealed that entry-level doctors will now earn ₦570,000 monthly, up from the previous ₦370,000.
House officers are also set to benefit, with their earnings rising from just over ₦250,000 to above ₦350,000, boosted by a newly introduced ₦100,000 tax-free “MORE Special Allowance.”
Why the Pay Raise?
According to the commissioner, the decision was driven by concerns over the low turnout of doctors in the state’s ongoing recruitment exercise.
Despite receiving over 6,000 applications for more than 700 health worker positions, the number of qualified doctors who showed up fell short of expectations—raising alarm over staffing gaps in the healthcare system.
Government’s Strategy
The state government believes the improved salary structure will:
Attract more qualified doctors
Retain existing medical professionals
Strengthen healthcare delivery across Delta State
Joseph Onojaeme also reassured the public that the recruitment process will remain strictly merit-based, stressing that no form of payment or favoritism will be tolerated.
Big Picture
With Nigeria facing an ongoing brain drain in the medical sector, Delta State’s move is seen as a strategic attempt to compete with better-paying opportunities abroad and in the private sector.
If successful, this could set a precedent for other states struggling to keep their healthcare workforce intact.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an indefinite nationwide strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, citing what it described as the Federal Government’s plan to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a key component of agreements reached after its 2025 industrial action.
The decision, which threatens to disrupt healthcare services across public hospitals in Nigeria, was reached at the end of the association’s virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, NARD National President, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the development as “unfortunate,” blaming the Federal Government of Nigeria for pushing doctors toward another industrial action.
“The National Executive Council was informed about the Federal Government’s decision to remove the Professional Allowance Table, a development deemed unfortunate,” he said.
“Following extensive deliberations, the NEC resolved to embark on a total industrial and comprehensive strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.”
The crisis stems from the implementation of a revised Professional Allowance Table negotiated between NARD and the Federal Government following a prolonged strike in 2025. The agreement included improved remuneration packages for resident doctors, covering call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and non-clinical duty payments.
Although implementation was initially scheduled to commence in January 2026, delays pushed the rollout to February. However, NARD alleged that the government is now planning to discontinue the process by April, a move the association says undermines trust and violates prior agreements.
Healthcare analysts note that disputes over allowances and welfare have been a recurring issue in Nigeria’s health sector, contributing to frequent strikes by medical unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association. These disruptions often reduce access to healthcare services, particularly in public hospitals that cater to the majority of Nigerians.
Outlining the association’s demands, Ibrahim called for the immediate reversal of the government’s decision and settlement of all outstanding entitlements.
“We demand the reversal of the decision to cease the implementation of the PAT starting in April 2026,” he said.
“There must be immediate payment of promotion arrears and salary arrears in affected centres, as well as the prompt conclusion of the process of paying the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.”
“We also insist on the immediate processing and payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance.”
He further urged members of the association nationwide to remain united.
“The NARD leadership calls on its members to unite in the fight against this injustice and to pursue it to a logical conclusion,” Ibrahim added.
The planned strike raises concerns about the potential impact on Nigeria’s already strained health system. Resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery in tertiary hospitals, handling a large proportion of patient care.
According to health sector data, Nigeria faces a severe shortage of medical personnel, with doctor-to-patient ratios far below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standard of one doctor to 600 patients. Estimates suggest Nigeria’s ratio is closer to one doctor per 5,000 patients, particularly in underserved areas.
An indefinite strike could lead to the shutdown of outpatient services, delays in surgeries, and increased pressure on private healthcare facilities, raising concerns among patients and health advocates.
Stakeholders have called for urgent intervention to avert another disruption in the health sector, warning that repeated strikes could worsen the ongoing brain drain among Nigerian doctors seeking better working conditions abroad.
As the strike deadline approaches, attention is now on the Federal Government to engage with NARD and resolve the dispute, with millions of Nigerians potentially affected if negotiations fail.
By Gloria Ikibah
The European Union has announced a major upgrade in its relationship with Nigeria, unveiling a €290 million investment package aimed at boosting key sectors including digitalisation, healthcare, agriculture and migration management.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Eighth Ministerial Dialogue in Abuja, co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
The funding, part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, will support seven new projects designed to strengthen economic cooperation and reflect what both parties described as a renewed political commitment to deeper bilateral ties.
Speaking at the event, Ms Kallas said: “In the current
geopolitical context, the European Union is keen to enhance its partnership with Nigeria. Bringing more EU investment to Nigeria, aligning with the Renewed Hope agenda for the Nigerian Federal Government is a key priority for both sides in this regard”.
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating: “Together with Nigeria, we are investing in the modernisation of the digital sector, a stronger health system and in the development of agriculture. These Global Gateway investments create new quality infrastructures, sustainable jobs and long-term economic opportunities that benefit the Nigerian people, but also create new opportunities for Europe”.
A significant portion of the package — €131 million — is earmarked for digital development. The funding will support the expansion of broadband infrastructure, including the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, aimed at improving connectivity and reducing internet costs for millions of Nigerians currently without access. It will also fund the development of secure digital public systems and support large-scale training initiatives under Nigeria’s technical talent programme.
In the health sector, €55 million has been allocated to boost local pharmaceutical production. Through a new credit line backed by the European Investment Bank, Nigerian companies will gain access to preferential loans to support the manufacturing of medicines and vaccines. The initiative will also include vocational training programmes to build expertise within the workforce.
Agriculture is set to receive €86 million in additional support, focusing on cocoa and dairy value chains. The funding will facilitate access to finance for businesses and smallholder farmers, while also promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. The move aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to expand milk production and strengthen its cocoa exports to European markets.
Meanwhile, €16 million has been dedicated to migration-related initiatives. The funds will support the reintegration of returning migrants and enhance efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling networks. The EU says it will continue to assist stranded migrants wishing to return home voluntarily, while also strengthening support systems to help them rebuild their lives.
The latest commitments add to existing EU-backed projects in Nigeria, including investments in transport infrastructure in Lagos, renewable energy development, democratic governance, and efforts to combat gender-based violence.
With these new agreements, total EU and Team Europe commitments to Nigeria since 2025 now stand at €962.5 million, underscoring what officials describe as a rapidly evolving and increasingly strategic partnership.
UCL: Real Madrid, Sporting out as Bayern Munich, Arsenal reach semi-finals
Aliko Dangote named among TIME 100 most influential people for 2026
Malami, son face new terrorism-linked firearms charges
-
News24 hours agoIran slams US blockade as ‘grave violation of sovereignty’
-
News21 hours agoEdun Urges Developing Countries to Adopt Measures to Cushion Global Shocks
-
News24 hours agoEl-Rufai distances self from comments on political aspirations attributed to associate
-
News18 hours agoJune Deadline Non-Negotiable, Wike Warns Contractors as FCT Targets Tinubu’s Anniversary For Projects Commissioning(Photos)
-
Opinion5 hours agoWhy PDP Should Pick Dr Olotu Akpodiete as Candidate for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency
-
News17 hours agoInsecurity: Nine feared killed in Benue attack
-
News17 hours agoFinally, NAF releases list of successful candidates
-
Foreign5 hours agoSecond Tragedy in Two Days: Student Gunman Kills Four at Middle School