Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Friday November 30, 2001
The long-awaited program, hailed as one of the most ambitious to date in Africa, is expected to cover 10,000 adults and 5,000 children in its first year, a government statement said.
But that is only a fraction of the 3.5 million Nigerians estimated to have the disease. Most people in Nigeria, Africa's most-populous country with 120 million people, earn just a few dollars a day and cannot afford expensive medical care. Drugs for the new program have already arrived and have been distributed to 100 participating health centers.
The government statement said there had been a noticeable increase in Nigerian HIV-AIDS infections in some areas.
According to a recent government survey, the average national infection rate was 5.8 percent among people between ages 15 and 45. But in more than 30 of 85 locations studied, including the capital, Abuja, HIV prevalence was around 10 percent.
Of 36 million people infected with HIV around the world, 26 million live in Africa. Globally, the virus has killed 23 million people, including 17 million in sub-Saharan Africa.
011130
AP011138
Copyright © 2001 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .