Thousands of Nigerian Children Remain Undiagnosed with HIV, Experts Warn

A somber reality persists in Nigeria, where a significant number of children continue to live with undiagnosed and untreated HIV. Health experts and development partners have voiced grave concerns, underscoring that despite dedicated efforts, the epidemic's grip on the nation's youngest and most vulnerable remains tight. The Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership Linking and Learning Meeting in Abuja served as a stark reminder that too many infants are not diagnosed early enough, and crucial opportunities to prevent transmission are being lost.

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Too many children are still being missed. Too many infants are not diagnosed early enough. Too many opportunities to prevent transmission are lost.

While data indicates that over 285,000 individuals, including children, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women, have received HIV services since 2023, the national burden remains alarmingly high. Approximately 260,000 children under the age of 14 are living with HIV. The disparity in treatment coverage is particularly concerning, with only about 45% of HIV-positive children receiving antiretroviral therapy, a figure that lags considerably behind adult coverage rates. This gap represents not just a programmatic challenge but a profound moral and human concern, as these children had no choice in their exposure to the virus.

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Some of the most vulnerable are those who had no choice in their exposure… our children. This is why the work we are reviewing today is not just programmatic, it is deeply human.

Improvements in preventing mother-to-child transmission have been noted, yet substantial gaps persist across the entire care continuum. Many HIV-positive pregnant women, especially in remote areas, are not being reached. Furthermore, a significant number of HIV-exposed infants are lost to follow-up, and many children remain undiagnosed within their communities. Initiatives like the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership are crucial, aiming to close these diagnosis and treatment gaps through coordinated interventions. However, the reliance of children on adults for healthcare access means they often fall through the cracks of the health system, making targeted engagement with community actors and traditional birth attendants vital for improving treatment coverage.

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These are not small victories; they represent lives protected and futures preserved.