The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised serious concern over the growing number of HIV infections among young women worldwide, revealing that about 4,000 girls aged 15 to 24 contract HIV every week.
This was disclosed in a statement by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborishade, on Wednesday in Lokoja, as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
According to the statement, adolescent girls and young women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Globally, adolescent girls and young women face a disproportionate HIV burden. In spite of progress, the numbers remain alarming,” AHF said.
The foundation revealed that over 3,300 of the 4,000 weekly HIV infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, while 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV in 2023, compared to 1.2 million boys and young men in the same age range — exposing a troubling gender disparity.
AHF further highlighted education as a critical factor in the fight against HIV, noting that 133 million girls worldwide remain out of school, depriving them of vital knowledge and opportunities for health and self-reliance.
The organisation called for increased investment in HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment, and greater attention to the issues of period poverty, gender-based violence, child marriage, and lack of comprehensive sexuality education, which it identified as key drivers of health inequality.
AHF Nigeria announced plans to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl with an educational event on October 10 at the Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku, Ubo, Offort, and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
The event will feature menstrual hygiene education, leadership sessions, and innovation presentations by young girls, alongside free sanitary pad distribution and mentorship opportunities.
AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie, expressed concern about persistent challenges such as limited access to reproductive healthcare, gender-based violence, and menstrual health neglect.
He said the foundation would continue to empower girls through education, leadership, and access to healthcare.
“We must ensure that every girl has the opportunity to thrive, learn, and lead without fear or barriers,” Ijezie stated.
AHF, the world’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, delivers medical care and advocacy to over 2.5 million people across 50 countries, including Nigeria.
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