HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Global Health Challenge and Contemporary Initiatives

Running head: HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA 1
HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
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‘Identify and analyze a current global health challenge, its impact internationally and
critically discuss the contemporary initiatives employed to tackle the identified challenge
and evaluate the associated role of the future nurse’
LO 1: Analyse the relevant health data which clearly identifies global patterns of health
and disease
According to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, in 2017 there were more than 36.9
million people globally suffering from HIV. Out of this figure, around 1.8 million were children
aged less than 15 years. In 2017, an approximated 1.8 million people globally became plagued
with HIV/AIDs– roughly 5,000 new infections daily. This included 180,000 youngsters (less
than 15 years old) (Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, 2018). Majority of these youngsters were from
sub-Saharan Africa and the AIDs virus were transmitted to them by their positive mothers during
birth, breastfeeding, or pregnancy. In 2017, about 75% HIV victims internationally were fully
aware of their HIV status. The remainder, 25% (about 9 million people) needed access to
HIV/AIDs testing services (Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, 2018). As Castro, Delabre, Morel,
Michels, & Spire, (2019) state, HIV/AIDS testing is an important postern to AIDs support
services, treatment, care, and prevention.
Nigeria is categorized as the second biggest HIV/AIDs endemic in the entire world (Idowu,
Aladekomo, Agbelusi, Alaba, & Balogun, 2017). Though the pervasiveness of this health
challenge amongst adults is much less (approximately 1.5%) than other sub-Saharan African
nations like Zambia (11.3%) and South Africa (20.4%), in the year 2018 the size of Nigeria's
population suggests that more than 1.9 million individuals were suffering from AIDs (Avert,
2018). Current decrease in pervasiveness of this challenge estimates in Nigeria can be attributed

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to the enhanced surveillance mechanisms. However, in 2017 Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) approximated that about two-thirds of HIV/AIDs infections in Central
and West Africa occurred in Nigeria. Along with Uganda and South Africa, Nigeria records
about half of all recent HIV/AIDs infections in sub-Saharan Africa annually. This was case
notwithstanding attaining a 5% decrease in infections between years 2010-2017(Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2019).
In 2017, about 101, 600 people were reported to be living with HIV/AIDs in the United
Kingdom. Out of this number, 7,800 were still undiagnosed and so they were unaware that they
were HIV positive (Avert, 2018). In the year 2018, there was a 28% drop compared to 2015 and
6% drop in new diagnoses from 2017 (Terrence Higgins Trust, 2018). This number compared to
that of Nigeria for the same period was substantially low. In Nigeria, 1 900 000 people were
suffering from HIV/AIDs in 2018. The pervasiveness of this disease—the proportion of
individuals living with HIV/AIDs—amongst adults (15–49 years) was estimated to be 1.5%.
Over 130 000 people were newly infected with AIDs and 53000 of them succumbed to the
ailment (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2018). In United Kingdom, 2% of the
HIV victims had contracted the disease through injecting drug use. Of those tested positive in
2018, 43% were diagnosed late. Of those tested positive, 60% of heterosexual men were
diagnosed late; 64% of people aged 65 and older; and only 33% of gay and bisexual men were
diagnosed late (Terrence Higgins Trust, 2018). Due to the combination prevention programme
amongst bisexual and gay men, 2018 witnessed a drop of 10% in AIDs diagnoses in this
demographic in one year and 39% compared to 2015 – particularly in London, where new
diagnoses reduced by about 50% in those three years(Terrence Higgins Trust, 2018).

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LO 2: In relation to a global health challenge, evaluate the relevant policies and
contemporary public health practices that inform the role of the future nurse
Various global health initiatives have been implemented to address the HIV/AIDs pandemic
(Cadi Irvine et al, 2018). The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(International Federation) are renowned for its immense contribution in global healthcare (Red
Cross Red Crescent, 2017). Since the mid 1980’s National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
have been consistently backing up various HIV/AIDS projects and initiatives (Carr, & Scott,
2017). In 2001, International Federation implemented a worldwide approach to the fight against
AIDS. It called for its 1987 HIV/AIDs policy that had been updated in 1991 and 1993 to be
reviewed. In their policy, the International Federation provides a model or rather a framework to
support National Society implementation consistent with local necessities and practicability. This
policy discourses the robust recommitment of the International Federation to enduring and
scaling-up advocacy, destigmatization, prevention, and delivery of healthcare and other facilities
related to HIV/AIDS (The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
2008).
National Societies, for instance Nigerian National Society is required by the 1987 HIV/AIDS
policy to develop local health policies and practices that conform to the prevailing standards set
up by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health
Organization (WHO). Nigerian National Society is encouraged to integrate HIV/AIDS into the
country’s resource mobilization plan and establish partnerships with both within the Red
Crescent Movement and Red Cross and beyond (Itiola, & Agu, 2018). Nigerian National Society
just like any other society is left with the responsibility of identifying various nursing role in the
whole country programme with regard to health. Besides, it is required to make sure that all

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Nigerian health programmes adhere to the HIV/AIDs treatment, control, and prevention
protocols officially set by UNAIDS and WHO. It should also ensure all medical practitioners are
in compliance with International Federation policy and that all of them are fully aware of the
details and rationale of the policy (The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, 2008).
Most countries including Nigeria have implemented a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS that
provides a framework for action to lessen the spread of this disease. A workplace policy on
HIV/AIDS helps to stop the spread of this virus through prevention programmes (Utuk,
Osungbade, Obembe, Adewole, & Oladoyin, 2017). It also gives guidance to managers and
supervisors and helps them in setting up comprehensive workplace programmes comprising of
prevention, care, and protection of rights of people living with HIV. The Nigerian Government,
through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has incepted a national workplace
policy on HIV/AIDS (Adeoye, 2018). This policy was formed owing to the negative effects that
face HIV/AIDS victims. These people experience discrimination and stigma and can be
extensive, both to the employees and to employers as well. Along this line, the checkup
technology of the Ministry is being reinforced to address specifically the encumbrance of
dishonor and discrimination against employees affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. One of the
efficient approaches of managing and preventing HIV and AIDS impact in the Nigerian
workplaces is by ensuring efficient enactment of workplace HIV/AIDS policies, in addition to
rational programmes (geared towards HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, support, and care). The
primary objectives of workplace policy on HIV/AIDS is to manage complaint procedures in
relation to HIV, promoting suitable and operative techniques of handling impacts of HIV/AIDS
in the workplace, promoting access to education including fair employee benefits and

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employment fortification, and eliminating stigmatization and discrimination in the workplace
based on perceived or real HIV/AIDS status including dealing with HIV diagnosis, disclosure,
and privacy (Ehiri, Alaofè, Yesufu, Balogun, Iwelunmor, Kram, & Abosede, 2019).
Apart from the policies meant to address the HIV and AIDS pandemic, there contemporary
public health practices that are also tailored to manage and control it (World Health
Organization, 2016). Though HIV/AIDS is an incurable disease, it can easily be managed,
abated, controlled or prevented through various practices such as use of protections like condom,
testing and counselling, undergoing voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), use of
Antiretroviral, and Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (EMTCT). Evidence
demonstrates that man rubber condoms have an 85% or bigger protective effect against
HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (Marfatia, Pandya, & Mehta, 2015).
Thus, correct usage of men and feminine condoms during sexual intercourse can protect against
the spread of HIV. People exposed to any of the risk factors are advised to undergo testing and
counseling. This way, individuals get to know about their own HIV status and go for the
necessary treatment and prevention services without delay (Osborn, & Obermeyer, 2016). What
is more, medical male circumcision decreases the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV/AIDS
infection in males by about 60% (Mbonye, Kuteesa, Seeley, Levin, Weiss, & Kamali, 2016).This
is one of the Nigeria’s fundamental prevention interventions and it supported in over 15 nations
in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) with high AIDS pervasiveness and low rates of male
circumcision. Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is as well considered as a decent
approach to reach menfolk and adolescent boys who rarely seek healthcare services.
Antiretroviral drugs are used to slow the progress of HIV/AIDS (Gebrezgabher, Kebede, Kindie,
Tetemke, Abay, & Gelaw, 2017).These drugs do not cure or kill the disease-causing virus though