Situation Report

The recently conducted Nigeria AIDS Indicator & Impact Survey 2019 (NAIIS 2019) placed Rivers State among the 7 States of the federation that jointly carries over 50% of the National epidemic burden. Rivers State lies in the high epidemic zone of the Country.

The current Rivers State HIV prevalence rate by population based survey (NAIIS 2019) is 3.8%. This is the third highest in the country and much higher than the National average of 1.4 %

Across the LGAs, infection burden is high but some LGAs are more impacted than others with Khana, Gokana, Andoni and Bonny LGA having the highest prevalence.

A projected 210,000 adults and 17,500 children are currently infected in the State and require treatment.

However only about 49,314 (23.4%) adults and 1,500 (8.8%) children are receiving the lifesaving Anti Retro Viral Treatment, leaving a serious gap of over 76.6% of infected adults and over 90% of infected children without access to treatment

Rivers State Government recently removed user fees for HIV services in the state and all health facilities providing HIV/AIDS services are reimbursed all service charges incurred quarterly.

HIV/AIDS services:

• HTS (HIV Testing Services): This is available and free of all charges in the state in both public and private health facilities including outreaches
• PMTCT ( Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV): This is also available in Comprehensive Health Facilities in the state
• ART ( Anti-Retro Viral Therapy): This is also available in all General Hospitals and Comprehensive Health Facilities