160,000 children are living with HIV in Nigeria, Christian body says

The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) urges the government and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among children in the country.

According to CCN, Nigeria has an estimated 160,000 children living with HIV, and only 45,000 are receiving treatment.

At the closing ceremony of the HIV intervention program implemented in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Abuja, the President of CCN, Pastor David Onuoha, represented by Archbishop Peter ogunmuyiwa, condemned the high number of children living with HIV. HIV in Nigeria, emphasizes the need for urgent action to address this situation.

“Our mission is to identify needy and disadvantaged groups, and have a positive impact on their lives. Our efforts have been enriching and impactful. “We are committed to fighting the HIV epidemic in our society, and we urge all relevant NGOs and government agencies to join us in this crusade,” he said.

While acknowledging progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission, Onuoha emphasized the need for more efforts. “According to statistics, Nigeria has a high number of children affected by HIV – 160,000 children, and only 45,000 children are undergoing treatment. This is unacceptable and we must do more to tackle this problem.”

Gracias Ross, WCC representative, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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“160,000 children are living with HIV, but it is important to remember that two million people are living with HIV in Nigeria. They will have partners and children. Under what conditions will these children be born? We have to change things. If these children are alone and have no family, then the church must be their family. “This is a call that we have to be fathers of orphans and fight for widows and fight for justice,” said Ross.

Ross also highlighted the need for comprehensive education regarding sexuality, saying, “You can imagine how many young people do not have a positive orientation towards sexuality. So the Church must enlighten the large number of young people in Nigeria who are uninformed.”

Pastor Dr. Evans Onyemara, Secretary General of the CCN, appreciated the support of the WCC and highlighted the success stories of the implementation of the program in several states. He acknowledged the contributions of partners, including the National AIDS Control Agency (NACA) and the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN), and looked forward to continued collaboration to eradicate the disease.

The event featured messages of goodwill from stakeholders, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to combat HIV/AIDS.

CCN and WCC’s efforts aim to provide support and treatment to those affected, reduce stigma, and increase awareness and education to prevent the spread of the disease.

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