Experts Sound Alarm on Massive Undiagnosed HIV Cases Among Nigerian Children

Health officials and development partners are expressing urgent concern regarding the thousands of Nigerian children currently living with undiagnosed and untreated HIV.

These findings were shared during the 2026 Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership Linking and Learning Meeting held in Abuja.

The event, organized by the Society for Family Health and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, aimed to bolster healthcare outcomes for HIV-positive youth.

Yusuf Dayyabu, speaking on behalf of the Society for Family Health, highlighted that too many infants remain undiagnosed, resulting in missed opportunities to halt viral transmission.

While initiatives since 2023 have successfully reached over 285,000 pregnant women and children, with nearly 2,900 individuals enrolled in treatment, the national situation remains dire.

Nigeria faces one of the largest paediatric HIV burdens globally, with approximately 260,000 children aged 0–14 currently infected. Alarmingly, only 45 percent of these children receive life-saving antiretroviral therapy.

Dr. Adebobola Bashorun of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme emphasized that addressing childhood HIV is both a moral and public health priority.

While progress has been made in preventing mother-to-child transmission, significant gaps persist, particularly in remote areas where pregnant women are often missed by clinical services.

Dr. Aisha Dadi, Country Lead of the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership, noted that pediatric cases are notoriously difficult to track because children depend entirely on adults to access the healthcare system.

Targeted efforts involving traditional birth attendants have managed to push treatment coverage up to 65 percent in select regions, but advocates warn that current success is overly dependent on international donors.

Dayyabu concluded that the sustainability of the national HIV response relies on increased government ownership and domestic investment. Without a shift toward local funding and improved early diagnostic strategies, Nigeria risks failing to reach its goal of ensuring no child is left without care.