398 Taraba Residents Die From HIV/AIDS In 6 Months

Taraba State Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Agency (TACA) says 398 died of HIV/AIDS in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2025.

The agency said 50,310 people infected with the virus are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in various health facilities across the state.

A breakdown of the figure showed that 2,674 persons between the ages of 0 and 19 years are living with the virus, while 47,636 victims aged 20 and above also have the virus.

The state government said the death rate increased when United States President Donald Trump stopped foreign aid to most of the countries, including Nigeria, which were benefitting from the US intervention programme.

At an event to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day in Jalingo yesterday, Governor Agbu Kefas, called for a collective response to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.

Kefas said his administration has put measures in place to ensure that no one is denied access to care and treatment.

Represented by the commissioner of Health, Dr Buma Gbansheya Bordiya, the governor stressed his commitment to strengthening reforms in the health sector to meet the needs of the people.

He emphasised inclusion to ensure that people living with HIV and key populations such as women and the vulnerable are not marginalised in the state.

While describing the event as a timely and compelling reminder of the shared responsibility, the governor said it was an opportunity for his administration to provide a strong foundation for advancing the fight against HIV/AIDS in Taraba.

“It speaks to the realities we face: economic pressure, insecurity, global health emergencies, and social barriers that continue to challenge our progress.

Despite these disruptions, Taraba State remains unwavering in its commitment to a resilient and sustainable HIV response,” Kefas said.

The director-general of TACA, Dr Bako Ali Istifanus, said the state has a lot to do in reducing the rate of infected persons.

“We cannot rest yet. To truly overcome distribution, we must sustain investments in prevention, treatment and community engagement. Despite the distribution that followed the stop work order by the US government, about 50,310 people living with HIV, are on ART as of October 2024 to September 2025,” he said.

The state coordinator, Association of Women Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Igbadu Elizabeth, expressed worry that the death rate was rising and had become a threat to their existence.

“In Taraba State, we have over 50,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS across the local governments, with Jalingo, the state capital, alone having the highest number of the virus, which is 16,000 and above.

“After the withdrawal of foreign aid by President Trump, we had a lot of challenges, which led to the loss of lives of our children and other persons living with HIV/AIDS.

“The last quarter, from July, August and September 2025, we had about 215 deaths, which never happened in my 13 years of being on ART.

“And then, in this quarter, which is yet to end, that is from October 1 to the last week of November, we had over 83 persons who died,” she said.

She recalled that the state previously recorded about 100 deaths in a year, “but with the two-quarter reports, it is quite alarming to us,” Igbadu said.