Abia government dismisses HIV/AIDS surge claims, says figures are outdated

The Abia State government has dismissed claims of a surge in HIV/AIDS cases in the state.

Uloaku Emma Ukaegbu, director general of the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ABSACA), clarified in a press briefing in Umuahia on Wednesday that the reports are based on outdated data from a 2018 survey.

“We are now in 2025, and the situation has changed significantly. The figures cited are not current, and we have made huge progress in addressing the health challenges since then,” she said.

Ukaegbu credited this progress to Governor Alex Otti’s “ever supportive and health-friendly” leadership, noting improvements in healthcare infrastructure and primary health care centres, especially in areas previously flagged for high HIV rates such as Ukwa East, Ikwuano, and Obingwa.

This comes after health workers and other key players in Abia State’s health sector raised concerns a few days ago about the rising spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

They blamed the troubling situation on a recent decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump to cut funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had been helping to provide HIV/AIDS drugs at lower costs around the world.

Meanwhile, Ukaegbu noted that ABSACA, in partnership with other health agencies, is conducting a new survey to provide updated data and guide future interventions.

“With our consistent efforts and investments, Abia is on track to become one of the best medical cities in Nigeria,” she said.