Plateau confirms 1,910 new HIV cases in nine months

…we’re expanding access to HIV prevention services in Ondo – Gov

Plateau State has reported 1,910 new HIV-positive cases between January and September 2025 after screening 98,403 residents, according to Nicholas Ba’amlong, the Commissioner for Health.

He made this known on Sunday in Jos, during a press briefing ahead of World AIDS Day.

He explained that 1,859 of the newly-diagnosed individuals had already been enrolled on antiretroviral therapy across various health facilities, following Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s approval for the procurement of HIV dual test kits to boost testing.

Ba’amlong noted that despite progress, HIV remains a major public health concern, recalling that Plateau recorded 2,786 new infections and 460 HIV-related deaths in 2024 alone.

He stated that, “the State has an estimated 51,370 people living with HIV, with 47,056 currently receiving treatment. This includes 14,001 males, 33,055 females, and 1,835 children who are on therapy”.

Read also: We’re expanding access to HIV prevention services in Ondo — Aiyedatiwa

On mother-to-child transmission, he revealed that 30,743 pregnant women were screened within nine months, with 39 testing positive and immediately linked to care to prevent transmission to their babies.

Meanwhile, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State said his Administration remains firmly committed to expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment services across the State.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed this in Akure, during the flag-off of a health walk marking the 2025 World AIDS Day, described the commemoration as “a moment of reflection, renewal and responsibility”, noting that the state has in the past year strengthened HIV prevention structures in all 18 Local Government Areas.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami maintained that; “over the last year, more people living with HIV have been initiated and retained on treatment, leading to improved viral suppression. As a government, we will continue to build on the strong foundations in HIV prevention, treatment and care.

“I am pleased to announce that we have expanded access to HIV testing services across the 18 Local Government Areas in the State.”

The governor reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to reinforcing the Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA) to ensure it remains vibrant, accountable and fully empowered to coordinate the state’s multi-sectoral HIV response. He added that the government is scaling up domestic financing for HIV programmes at state and local government levels to guarantee sustainability beyond donor cycles.

Taiwo Fasoranti, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government and Chairman of ODSACA, in his remarks, said the Agency continued to implement global best practices in preventing HIV transmission and caring for people living with the virus.

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states.

He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.

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