Bauchi State in Nigeria is currently providing antiretroviral treatment to 29,874 individuals living with HIV, according to the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Danbam. This information was revealed during a press briefing held to commemorate World AIDS Day. The state has expanded its HIV services to 863 facilities, offering free testing and treatment to the general population, including pregnant women.

This year alone, 2,246 newly diagnosed individuals have commenced antiretroviral therapy, and over 650 HIV-exposed infants have remained free from infection due to timely interventions. Dr. Danbam emphasized that while AIDS remains incurable, early treatment has significantly improved outcomes, transforming it from a death sentence to a manageable condition.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response’, highlights the challenges posed by funding cuts and other disruptions to healthcare systems. It serves as a reminder to stakeholders to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and adopt rights-based approaches to combat AIDS, with the goal of ending it as a public health threat by 2030.

The UNFPA Executive Director, Diene Keita, represented by Deborah Tabara in Bauchi, warned that reductions in international aid are undermining decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Nearly 2.5 million people have lost access to lifesaving HIV prevention services, with countries experiencing rising infection rates being the hardest hit. Keita stressed the importance of addressing stigma, gender inequality, and integrating HIV services into routine reproductive healthcare to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of governments, international organizations, and communities, approximately 27 million lives have been saved. However, there is still a need to build on this progress and work towards creating an AIDS-free future. The World Health Organization and other global health authorities continue to emphasize the importance of sustained commitment and funding to address the ongoing challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.