Health
Concerns as HIV prevalence soars in Akwa Ibom

Despite the aggressive enlightenment campaign by the government, as well as several donor agencies, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Akwa Ibom State remains high.
Akwa Ibom had in successive years maintained the number one position as a state with the highest burden of HIV in Nigeria, with 5.5%, according to Nigeria HIV/AIDs Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS).
The number one position, though infamous, has left much to be worried about.
Despite the aggressive enlightenment campaign by the government, as well as several donor agencies, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Akwa Ibom State remains high.
Akwa Ibom had in successive years maintained the number one position as a state with the highest burden of HIV in Nigeria, with 5.5%, according to Nigeria HIV/AIDs Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS).
The number one position, though infamous, has left much to be worried about.
According to Akwa Ibom State programme data 2022, about 240,000 persons are currently on treatment of HIV/AIDS in the State.
From the number, HIV gender disparity between females and males is high due to biological and social reasons showing that females are the worst hit.
“HIV prevalence was greatest among younger adults, with females aged 20-24 years (1.3%) having almost four times the prevalence of males in the same age group (0.4%).
“As at June 2023, 10,833 adolescents and young persons were on medications hence the need for positive living to ensure they adhere to viral suppression and epidemic control,” the survey revealed.
Dr Edith Mathias Igbemi said during a sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS in the state that women are recording high prevalence of HIV.
She called for more awareness on control measures.
She highlighted LGAs with high prevalence of HIV in Akwa Ibom to include Ikono, Obot Akara, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo, Nsit Ubium, Eket, Ibeno and Oron.
Igbemi noted that the State had made some progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in terms of improved case finding through Index Case Testing, Camping and Creek Testing modalities.
She revealed that with the breakthrough recorded, the 2021 publication of Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, estimated that the prevalence rate had dropped to 4.4 per cent, adding that this is subject to approval by NACA in another survey.
She, however, called for more collaboration with Stakeholders and Development partners in escalating HIV prevention activities to adolescents and young girls in the State.
Speaking with Mrs Cecilia Ekanem, a health worker with ECEWS in the Primary Health Centre, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, she identified low access to antenatal care by some pregnant women as one of the factors contributing to the spread of HIV spread, especially from mother to child in the State.
She lamented that some HIV positive mothers most times out of ignorance or fear of stigmatisation failed to go to hospital for antenatal checkup and would end up giving birth to their babies at the Traditional Birth Attendants homes or churches without knowing the safety measures to adopt.
She harped on exclusive breastfeeding for all mothers, saying that it fortifies the baby against diseases, including HIV.
According to her, “we are working to reduce the level of HIV in the State.
“All the pregnant women who come here must be tested. Those who test positive are placed on medication and all of them who follow instructions have babies that are healthy and free of HIV because they are taking their medication.”
On whether HIV positive mothers can breastfeed their babies without transmitting the virus to them, Mrs Ekanem said: “yes, she can breastfeed her child but it must be done exclusively. The child can get infected if the mother introduces mixed feeding.
“So, it is advisable for the mother to stop breastfeeding entirely after six months of exclusive breastfeeding and continue with other family diets so that the child will not be malnourished and will not contract the virus.”
One of the persons living with HIV, simply Edikan, an undergraduate of the Akwa Ibom State University, during the sensitization programme, said he contracted the virus from his mother at birth.
He said he had lived with the virus for 24 years without any form of challenge, noting that HIV is not a death sentence.
He encouraged people to come out for tests and take positive action after knowing their status.
He admitted that People Living with HIV were experiencing a high level of stigma in the State.
He, however, vowed that he would not be deterred from achieving his dream despite the challenge.
To stem the tide of stigma, the Manager of the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDs (AKSACA), Dr Enobong Akpan called for domestication of the anti-stigma and discrimination law in the State.
Speaking with our correspondent on the efforts of the Agency in tackling HIV stigma in the State, he said “we are going to fight against every form of discrimination or stigmatisation.
“We are going to pursue the necessary laws, the anti stigma law and all the laws to make sure any organisation or institution found to stigmatise any HIV positive person will face sanctions.”
He also encouraged people living with the virus to eschew any form of self stigmatisation, describing it as the worst.
Dr Edith Igbemi, on her part, explained that stigmatisation was one of the factors driving the epidemic, especially amongst the young people, noting that a study revealed that 31.9% agreed that it was difficult to disclose their HIV status to people for fear of being stigmatised.
She said that females were more stigmatised than their male counterparts in the State, noting that the National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, of 2018, reported that females experienced stigma more than men with a percentage of 61 per cent, while just 38 per cent of men reported stigma.
Also, Gideon Solomon of the Heartland Alliance identified lack of access to prevention materials, such as condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) as part of factors increasing the spread of HIV in the State, adding that some persons have refused to go for HIV testing due to fear.
He said, “we observed that some people are scared to know their status. But I advise that they should go ahead and have their HIV personal test kit.
“It’s not only knowing your status, but knowing your status consistently following the prevention procedures religiously.
“We want to push the ‘know your status narrative’. If you know your status, what do you do, you go on Prep. If you are on pre-exposure prophylaxis, the chances of you being shielded from getting infected with HIV is 99.9 per cent,” he advised.
Health
Nurses Back to Work After Four-Day Nationwide Strike
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, confirmed the development.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NAMMM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike.
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, confirmed the development.
The statement said that the decision was made during a virtual meeting of NANNM’s National Executive Council.
“The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately,” he confirmed.
It partly reads, “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.
“In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect.
“NEC has directed the national leadership to continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.
“State councils are directed to mobilise members for the immediate resumption of duty. ..”
Health
Nigerian Nurses in Govt -Owned Hospitals Beginning Nationwide Strike Tonight
“Private hospitals are not included. This is because for now the private practitioner nurses are not spread over Nigeria,”

Twenty-five thousand nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, will begin a seven-day nationwide strike, tonight.
The strike is in response to issues which include poor remuneration, staff shortages, unpaid allowances, and unsafe working conditions.
On July 14, 2025, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.
The National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said that the strike would involve a total withdrawal of services across all federal health institutions.
The 15-day ultimatum ends by Tuesday, July 29, 2025, by midnight, and the warning strike commences on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 12.01am.
“The action would include 74 federal hospitals – teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, specialist hospitals like orthopaedic, neuro-psychiatric, and eye centres, as well as all general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government areas.”
Health
UK doctors on five-day strike, shun PM’s plea
Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.
(AFP)

• Uk doctors on strike / AFP
Thousands of UK doctors launched a five-day strike early Friday after talks with the Labour government for a new pay increase failed to reach a deal.
Doctors were out on picket lines outside hospitals after negotiations with the government went down the wire late Thursday, without reaching an accord.
The move comes after the doctors accepted a pay rise offer totalling 22.3 per cent over two years in September, soon after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party took power.
Resident doctors — those below consultant level — have said they felt they had “no choice” but to strike again to reverse “pay erosion” since 2008.
Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.
Launching a strike “will mean everyone loses,” Starmer wrote in the Times, highlighting the added strain it would put on the already struggling National Health Service (NHS).
He appealed to the doctors not to “follow” their union, the British Medical Association (BMA) “down this damaging road.
“Our NHS and your patients need you, ” Starmer warned.” Lives will be blighted by this decision,” Starmer warned.
-
Politics3 days ago
JUST IN: Dino Melaye dumps PDP
-
Entertainment3 days ago
NFVCB June Films top by ROK Studios, Silverbird Distribution, and OSSYKing Movies
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Gen Z Slang: Bet, Simp, Glow Up and More
-
News3 days ago
JUST IN: President Tinubu Extends Customs Boss Adeniyi’s Tenure by One Year
-
News15 hours ago
NGE Condemns Arbitrary Closure of Badeggi Radio Station by Gov Bago for allegedly promoting violence
-
Health15 hours ago
Nurses Back to Work After Four-Day Nationwide Strike
-
News20 hours ago
Olumuyiwa Adejobi Becomes Deputy Commissioner of Police
-
News19 hours ago
NLC rejects FG’s new policy stopping frequent industrial strikes