Despite progress in fighting HIV in Abia State, the local government area of Ukwa East is still reporting high numbers of new cases. This has raised concerns and led to fresh calls for more community education and action.

This concern was shared during a one-day workshop in Umuahia, organized by the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ABSACA). The workshop was meant to educate members of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) on how to help reduce HIV in their areas.

The Director-General of ABSACA, Dr. Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu, said that Ukwa East currently has the highest HIV rate in the state at 2.48%. It is followed by Ikwuano with 2.38% and Obingwa with 2.29%.

Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu described the Ward Development Committees as very important in the fight against HIV. She encouraged them to hold town hall meetings, go to markets, and visit religious places to educate people about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

She also shared that 46,788 people are now receiving HIV treatment in Abia. Good news is, the state’s overall HIV rate has dropped from 5.1% in 2018 to 2.1% in 2024.

On the national level, she said the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) reported 75,000 new HIV cases and 45,000 deaths due to AIDS in 2023. Right now, about 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV.

At the same event, ABSACA’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Chinedu Iroh, said people need to focus more on prevention. He advised the use of condoms as a key way to stop the virus from spreading.

Another speaker, Ekeoma Akidi, said that many people living with HIV still face stigma in their communities. He called on traditional and religious leaders to help stop the discrimination and support those affected.