World AIDS Day: Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Remains Major Challenge

Despite Nigeria’s progress in HIV prevention and treatment, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the virus remains a serious challenge, with many pregnant women still testing positive in communities and children being born with HIV.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is the spread of virus from an HIV-infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth (also called labour and delivery), or breastfeeding (through breast milk).

According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), mother-to-child transmission is the most common way that children become infected with HIV.

“Pregnant women with HIV receive HIV medicines during pregnancy and childbirth to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In some situations, a woman with HIV may have a scheduled cesarean delivery (sometimes called a C-section) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV during delivery.

“Babies born to women with HIV receive HIV medicine for 6 weeks after birth. The HIV medicine reduces the risk of infection from any HIV that may have entered a baby’s body during childbirth,” NACA explained.

Speaking during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration on Monday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, warned that Nigeria risks reversing gains if urgent steps are not taken to strengthen prevention services, especially at the community level.

“Mothers are being tested positive in various communities, and children are still being born HIV positive.We still have a lot of gaps in preventing mother-to-child transmission. These are burning issues that must be addressed urgently,” he said.

He explained that recent funding uncertainties, particularly the decline in global support, have severely weakened community structures. The disengagement of over 1,700 mentor mothers, who had provided critical linkage and follow-up for pregnant women, has left a significant vacuum.

“These mentor mothers played a huge role in community mobilisation and follow-up. Their disengagement is a gap Nigeria cannot afford to ignore,” he said, appealing to the First Lady to intervene.

“As the mother of the nation, we ask you to help bridge this gap. Our women are looking up to you.”

Ibrahim commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N200 billion for antiretroviral (ARV) procurement but stressed that more investment is needed for retention, adherence counselling, psychosocial support, and viral load testing, areas largely supported by donors in the past.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Esther Hindi, said Nigeria must intensify efforts to end pediatric AIDS.

“Children are still being born with HIV in Nigeria today.Many pregnant women do not know their HIV status. We plead for expanded access to testing and comprehensive services so that we can finally end pediatric AIDS,” she said.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, reaffirmed her commitment to championing HIV prevention, especially for mothers and children. She highlighted ongoing efforts under the Free to Shine Campaign, which promotes the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis by 2030.

“Advocacy, innovation, care and compassion are the pillars of this response. Every Nigerian deserves to live free from judgment and exclusion,” she stated.

She emphasised that Nigeria is moving steadily toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission through integrated maternal and child health services but acknowledged the need for sustainable financing as donor support declines.

Earlier in his address, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziak Salako, reported that in 2024, more than 5 million pregnant women were tested for HIV, with 26,566 testing positive and immediately placed on treatment. While describing these as significant gains, he noted persistent gaps in testing coverage, early infant diagnosis, and service access.

NACA Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, said Nigeria has made strong progress toward the global 95-95-95 targets but stressed that sustaining these achievements requires renewed national ownership and domestic investment.

She emphasised Nigeria’s resilience despite disruptions from the global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and shifts in donor support.

“Nigeria has maintained an 87–98–95 performance on the global HIV targets and recorded a 46% reduction in new infections over the last decade,” she said.

According to her, 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV, while prevalence among adults aged 15–49 has dropped to 1.3 per cent, down from 2.8 per cent in previous years.

Ilori also highlighted major innovations in HIV prevention, including the emergence of twice-yearly injections to prevent HIV, a breakthrough now priced as low as $40 per person per year through global negotiations.

“This is what innovation in service of humanity looks like, and Nigeria is committed to ensuring our people benefit,” she added.

She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stepping in “decisively” with the $200m investment to prevent disruption of essential services when donor uncertainties threatened programme continuity.

Ending pediatric HIV by 2030 remains within reach, but only if Nigeria strengthens community systems, expands testing for pregnant women, restores critical support structures, and eliminates stigma that prevents women and youths from seeking care.