Nigeria recorded a decline in antiretroviral treatment protection among pregnant women dwelling with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2026.
The proportion of pregnant and breastfeeding women dwelling with HIV who achieved viral suppression fell from 95 per cent in 2025 to 79 per cent in 2026, in accordance with the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Statistical Book.
Produced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the report critiques the third 12 months of implementation of the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint and was offered on the third Nigeria Health Sector JAR in Abuja on 10 November 2026.
The report additionally reveals that antiretroviral treatment protection among HIV-positive pregnant women recorded in the programme information fell from 98 per cent in 2025 to 83 per cent in 2026.
Antiretroviral remedy (ART) is the usage of medicines to regulate HIV an infection. Viral suppression happens when treatment reduces the quantity of the virus in the blood to a really low stage.
Preventing mother-to-child transmission
HIV could be transmitted from a mom to her baby throughout being pregnant, childbirth or breastfeeding.
However, applicable treatment throughout being pregnant and continued care after supply can considerably scale back the chance of transmission.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the chance of mother-to-child transmission ranges from 15 to 45 per cent, with out interventions.
It recommends that women identified with HIV be linked promptly to lifelong treatment and supported to stay in care and obtain viral suppression.
Speaking on the National HIV Health Sector Symposium in Abuja in July 2025, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, mentioned Nigeria continued to document greater than 9,000 new paediatric HIV infections yearly.
Mr Salako known as for improved entry to treatment for pregnant women dwelling with HIV, early analysis of HIV-exposed infants and stronger neighborhood engagement to deal with stigma.
He additionally mentioned the federal government’s state of emergency on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission remained in impact as a part of efforts to make sure that no Nigerian baby is born with HIV.
Other HIV indicators
The report additionally recorded a decline in newly detected HIV instances, from 108,230 in 2025 to 70,356 in 2026.
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It additional confirmed an enchancment in general ART protection among folks dwelling with HIV, which elevated from 78 per cent in 2025 to 82 per cent in 2026. Viral suppression among these receiving treatment additionally rose from 94 to 95 per cent.
However, the variety of folks newly identified with superior HIV illness elevated from 19,747 in 2025 to twenty,162 in 2026.
The figures present enhancements in some nationwide HIV indicators alongside declines in treatment protection and viral suppression among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The JAR Book cites the National Data Repository and National Data Reporting System as sources of its HIV indicators.
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