VZCZCXRO8606
PP RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHUJA #2546/01 3451009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111009Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1631
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 8405
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002546 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CDC ALSO FOR DIRECTORS EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO EAID KPAO SOCI PGOV NI
 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA COMMEMORATES WORLD AIDS DAY 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  The HIV infection rate in Nigeria is estimated to be 
4.4% or 3.9 million inhabitants with the most vulnerable the 20-24 
year age group along with an estimated 930,000 orphans.  The USG is 
the largest bilateral donor at $304 million for 2007 and holds the 
donor coordination chairmanship in Nigeria.  The USG HIV/AIDS Team 
and its development partners held activities throughout Nigeria to 
commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007 and the team looks to 
exceed its targets as it prepares to implement the 2008 Country 
Operational Plan. End Summary 
 
¶2. The primary HIV/AIDS coordinating body for the Government of 
Nigeria (GON) is the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) 
along with the Federal Ministry of Health.  The HIV infection rate 
in Nigeria is estimated at 4.4% of the population (Federal Ministry 
of Health, 2005) or about 3.9 million inhabitants infected with HIV 
and an estimated 930,000 AIDS orphans.  In addition, Nigeria has one 
of the highest tuberculosis (TB) rates (290/100,000 population, WHO 
2006) in the world and the largest TB burden in Africa.   Many TB 
cases go undetected despite increasing TB detection rates and TB 
program coverage. 
 
¶3. Nigeria's HIV/AIDS epidemic is largely confined to heterosexual 
transmission and mother-to-child transmission, but there are clearly 
identifiable risk groups such as girls who marry at a young age.  By 
2015, an estimated 16.2% of the total population under 15 years of 
age will be orphaned, up from only 5.2% in 2000.  The current HIV 
prevalence peaks in the 20 to 24 year age group which implies that 
people are becoming infected at an early age.  With over half of the 
infected population under 25 years of age, Nigeria was classified as 
a "second wave" country by the U.S. Office of the Director of 
National Intelligence's National Intelligence Council.  While 
prevalence estimates imply that the stage is set for the next and 
larger wave of the epidemic to transpire over the next decade, the 
USG will work to counter such a situation with intensified and 
targeted prevention activities. 
. 
USG efforts 
---------------------- 
. 
¶4. The United States is the largest bilateral donor to the Nigeria 
HIV/AIDS sector, having provided a total of $304 million in support 
in 2007.  The USG in-country agencies include USAID, HHS/CDC, 
HHS/NIH, Department of State, and Department of Defense. 
 
¶5. Funding in Nigeria is focused on treatment, prevention, and basic 
care and support.  Treatment activities include the provision of 
antiretroviral drugs and services to eligible patients as well as 
laboratory support for the diagnosis and monitoring of HIV positive 
patients identified through USG Nigeria activities.  Prevention 
activities include prevention of mother to child transmission 
(PMTCT), abstinence and be faithful (AB) programs, blood and 
injection safety, and other prevention initiatives (focused on high 
risk populations).  Care activities in Nigeria include HIV 
counseling and testing (HCT), palliative care, TB/HIV, and support 
for orphans/vulnerable children (OVC). 
 
¶6. In addition to our regular planning with NACA and the Federal 
Ministry of Health, the USG team holds one of two bilateral seats on 
the Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund and is the 
current Chair of the Development Partners Group for HIV/AIDS, which 
is the primary donor coordination body for multilateral and 
bilateral organizations providing HIV support. 
 
¶7. In addition to USG agencies, development partners include the 
Global Fund; World Bank; the Clinton Foundation and UNAIDS; DFID; 
JICA; CIDA; WHO; and UNICEF.  Others include the African Development 
Bank, International Labor Organization (ILO), Italian Cooperation, 
UNDP, UNDCP, UNFPA, and UNIFEM.  The USG will continue to leverage 
funding from both the Global Fund and the Clinton Foundation.  The 
Global Fund has approved five HIV/AIDS and TB grants for Nigeria, 
totaling approximately $100 million in lifetime awards to support 
the expansion of TB services, Anti-Retroviral Treatment, PMTCT and 
the promotion of civil society's role in the HIV/AIDS response. 
. 
USG World AIDS Day Activities 
----------------------------- 
. 
¶8. Public Affairs Office (PAO) commemorated World AIDS Day at 
American Corners venues from December 3-5 in twelve states (Lagos, 
Ogun, Oyo, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, 
Maiduguri, Bauchi and Sokoto) highlighting the theme, "Leadership 
and HIV/AIDS Prevention in Nigeria."  The programs entailed 
discussion around issues in HIV/AIDS such as mitigation, diversity 
of the epidemic context and the prevention needs for each state, and 
leadership on AIDS. Personal testimonials from PEPFAR program 
beneficiaries gave a human face to USG activities in Nigeria. 
 
ABUJA 00002546  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶9. In partnership with the University of Lagos Medical Center, PAO 
Lagos conducted a World AIDS Day march and rally with more than 2000 
students to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.  There was also a 
three-day workshop for 29 Imams from Lagos State on HIV/AIDS 
prevention and awareness.  The event was organized by the NGO 
Muslims Against AIDS (MAIDS) from November 27 to 29.  The workshop, 
specifically timed to focus attention on World AIDS Day, prepared 
participants to educate members of their communities.  Dr. Nasir 
Sani-Gwarzo, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease 
Control (CDC), addressed technical aspects of HIV and AIDS.  MAIDS, 
in turn, identified Islamic scholars and other medical practitioners 
to address the implications of HIV/AIDS in the context of Islamic 
practice. 
. 
USG Development Partners Activities 
----------------------------------- 
. 
¶10. USG partners activities included: 
 
-Enabling HIV/AIDS, TB and Social Sector Environments (ENHANSE) 
activities supported in Abuja included TV/Radio talk shows, a media 
roundtable on the leadership theme, and an advocacy march by People 
Living with AIDs (PLWAs) to the National Assembly to demand early 
passage of the bill on Stigma and Discrimination. 
 
-In the week leading up to World AIDS Day, Safe Blood for Africa 
(SBFAF), conducted a blood drive at the offices of CDC/Nigeria in 
Abuja and used the cellular telephone network to initiate text 
messaging on the importance of "knowing your status". 
 
-The Defense Headquarters Medical Center, a Nigerian Ministry of 
Defense - U.S. Department of Defense HIV Program PEPFAR site 
supported activities at Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja.  This included 
HIV prevention education and awareness activities, the initiation of 
a peer education training program for PLWAs, and a candlelight 
vigil. 
 
¶11. NACA held a week long program leading up to World AIDS Day in 
Abuja.  This included radio jingles, newspaper advertisements, 
community outreach activities, round table discussions and blood 
drives.  On December 1, NACA sponsored an advocacy walk and rally. 
Participants included the UN Resident Coordinator and the USAID 
General Development Officer on behalf of the Development Partners 
Group which includes USG/Nigeria. 
. 
Looking to the future 
--------------------- 
. 
¶12. Post anticipates receiving approval for its 2008 Country 
Operational Plan in early 2008. With President Bush continuing his 
support by committing an additional five year commitment of $30 
billion, post expects to exceed its 2007 targets in the three areas 
of treatment, prevention, and basic care and support. 
 
PIASCIK