HIV/AIDS

Nigeria has the fourth-largest population of people living with HIV globally, with a national HIV prevalence of 1.3% (NACA) and a concentrated HIV epidemic (HIV prevalence is disproportionately higher among key subgroups of the population)  (UNAIDS). The U.S. Government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is addressing this crisis at the intersection of health and human rights by providing comprehensive, evidence-based services aimed at reducing HIV among general and priority populations. Currently, over 600,000 Nigerians, representing about 40 percent of the country's HIV-positive population, are supported by USAID. Efforts are also focused on preventing HIV transmission among high-risk groups and curbing mother-to-child transmission. Additionally, USAID supports over 405,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers to mitigate the impact of HIV. USAID PEPFAR programs  provide essential supply chain logistics , procurements and delivery of life-saving antiretroviral therapy, test kits, viral load and other health commodities to health facilities and laboratories across all 36+ 1 states in Nigeria.  Logistics Management efforts are complemented by the support to strengthen the National Integrated Sample Referral network which moves samples from faculties across the country’s laboratory network.

TUBERCULOSIS

Nigeria has the sixth highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) globally and the highest in Africa. In partnership with Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health and other development partners, USAID works to ensure all individuals with TB receive life-saving treatment, prevent transmission, and halt the progression from infection to disease. USAID's TB program accelerates access to preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and care services through collaboration with public and private health facilities and community settings, using sustainable local innovations with the overall goal of strengthening the health system for TB response.

From 2020 to 2023, USAID helped increase TB case notifications nearly threefold, diagnosing and notifying about 305,000 TB cases—35% of the national total. USAID has introduced new approaches to demand generation and health seeking for TB services  through social behavior change interventions and innovative tools like Portable Digital X-ray machines with AI software, TrueNat, TB LAMP, shorter preventive treatment regimens, and new oral treatments for Multi-Drug Resistant TB. Additionally, USAID is supporting the National TB Program in conducting the second National Drug-Resistant TB survey to better estimate the burden and design appropriate interventions.

MALARIA

Nigeria still has the highest burden of malaria globally which remains the top cause of child illness and death. We support efforts to decrease the number of malaria-related deaths in pregnant women and children each year by increasing access to and availability of treatment, insecticide-treated bed nets, and re-treatment kits. Between 2010 and 2021, malaria interventions through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) resulted in a 22 percent reduction in malaria parasites found in the blood of children under age five, per the Malaria Indicator Survey. PMI/Nigeria has scaled up malaria control interventions and since 2011 has distributed 90.1 million mosquito bed nets, over 115 million malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, over 117 million treatments courses for malaria, and over 22 million doses of medication to prevent malaria in pregnancy

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

The USAID Maternal and Child Health program reaches more than 60 million Nigerians with lifesaving services - including training public health workers and improving access to quality medicines, vaccines, medical facilities, and reproductive health materials. Our activities improve governance and leadership at all levels of the health sector and support the development of a robust, equitable and efficient health financing system. Per the 2018 Nigeria National Demographic and Health Survey, there was a16 percent reduction in under-five mortality rate nationally and the number of fully immunized children has increased by 10 percent between 2013 and 2018. More than 1.8 million unintended pregnancies were averted in the past three years due in part to our family planning efforts, in partnership with the Government of Nigeria. 

Related Links

• USAID Global Health Fact Sheet
• Federal Health Minister Lends a Hand to USAID Fistula Surgical Repair Clinic at Osun State Medical Center
• The untold story behind defeating the Ebola Viral Disease in Nigeria
• U.S. President's Malaria Initiative - Country in Focus Nigeria
• Estimating the Untapped Capacity of the Private Sector to Deliver Antiretroviral Therapy in Lagos State, Nigeria