Plateau State has reported 1,910 new HIV-positive cases from January to September 2025 after screening 98,403 residents, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, who disclosed this during a Sunday press briefing ahead of World AIDS Day 2025.
Out of these confirmed cases, 1,859 individuals have already been enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) across various health facilities in the State. The Commissioner also noted that Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently approved funding for the purchase of HIV dual test kits, which have now been distributed to health centres to improve diagnostic efforts.
Addressing the theme, “Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” he said the data demonstrates that HIV continues to pose a major public health challenge, despite the progress recorded over time.
In 2024 alone, the State documented 2,786 new HIV infections as well as 460 deaths linked to the virus.
He further explained that Plateau currently has an estimated 51,370 People Living with HIV (PLHIV), with 47,056 of them on ART as of September 2025. This figure includes 14,001 males and 33,055 females, while among children, 1,835 are receiving ART—comprising 882 boys and 953 girls.
Highlighting improvements in preventing mother-to-child transmission, Ba’amlong revealed that 30,743 pregnant women were screened for HIV within the same nine-month period, with 39 testing positive and immediately connected to treatment.
He credited the State’s steady reduction in new HIV cases to expanded awareness programmes, stronger collaborations, and the rollout of testing services to more than 900 health facilities, including faith-based organisations and traditional birth centres.
Dr. Ba’amlong also referenced a recent national policy change, announcing that the Federal Ministry of Health has approved lowering the age of consent for HIV testing and counselling to 14 years—an initiative aimed at boosting testing rates among adolescents, a group considered highly vulnerable to HIV transmission.
He restated the government’s dedication to increasing treatment access points, ensuring consistent availability of ART drugs, improving youth-friendly services, eliminating mother-to-child transmission, and tackling stigma and discrimination.
The State further committed to supporting research aimed at strengthening prevention and treatment outcomes.
He also commended healthcare workers, partners, NGOs, and community groups for their efforts in advancing the State’s HIV response.
Ba’amlong urged health professionals to uphold high standards, encouraged young people to embrace preventive measures and early testing, and appealed to partners to maintain their collaboration.
He reaffirmed the State’s vision of ensuring that babies are born HIV-free and that individuals living with the virus receive compassionate, stigma-free care.
“Together, we can build a healthier, stronger and more inclusive Plateau where everyone has access to health care,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Plateau State AIDS Control Agency (PLACA), Mrs. Esther Turaki, who led other stakeholders to a Church service at St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos—along with the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Dennis Mancha, and Ezekiel Afan from the Network of People living with HIV/AIDS—called on communities to help end stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS.
Turaki encouraged citizens to make use of World AIDS Day on December 1 to get tested, while commending the Church for its continued support for people living with the virus.
The Priest also asked for prayers for those infected and affected by HIV.
