AHF Calls for Urgent Intervention as 4,000 Girls Contract HIV Weekly
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised serious concern over the alarming rate of new HIV infections among young women and girls, calling for urgent global and national interventions to address the crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, the organization revealed that an estimated 4,000 girls contract HIV every week worldwide, highlighting a disturbing gender gap in new infections.
The statement, released in commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, emphasized that the ongoing vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women to HIV infection is a reflection of deep-rooted social inequalities, gender-based violence, and limited access to health services and education.
“It is unacceptable that in this age, thousands of young girls continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections. We must move beyond rhetoric and take decisive, gender-responsive actions to protect the next generation,” Aborisade said.
He noted that despite progress in HIV awareness and treatment, adolescent girls and young women remain disproportionately affected, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where factors such as poverty, stigma, and lack of comprehensive sexuality education exacerbate the situation.
AHF Nigeria urged governments, international partners, and civil society organizations to prioritize programs that empower girls, improve access to healthcare, and strengthen prevention strategies, including comprehensive sex education and access to HIV testing and treatment.
The foundation also called for increased investment in youth-centered health initiatives, community outreach, and policies that protect girls from gender-based violence and discrimination.
Aborisade reaffirmed AHF’s commitment to advancing the rights and wellbeing of girls through advocacy, education, and healthcare support, saying the organization will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve an HIV-free generation.
The International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated annually on October 11, aims to promote girls’ rights, highlight gender inequalities, and advocate for the empowerment and protection of the girl child globally.
