As the world marked World AIDS Day on December 1, people living with HIV in Kano highlighted the persistent stigma and challenges they face, despite years of public awareness campaigns.

Discrimination Remains Widespread
Bashir Isma’il, Director of Save Lives Sustainable and Counseling Initiative, told DAILY POST that discrimination against HIV-positive individuals remains common, often fueled by ignorance and poverty. He noted that even healthcare settings sometimes treat patients differently based on their financial means.

“Stigma is still very real. Some patients receive special attention only because they can afford it,” he said, also expressing concern over US threats to halt medical aid, which could have severely impacted access to HIV medication in Nigeria.

Patients Speak Out
MD, a patient in Kano, shared the personal struggles of living with HIV: misdiagnosis, visiting traditional healers, and enduring discrimination from family and friends following his diagnosis.

Call for Local Research and Solutions
Isah Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, emphasized the need for Nigeria to develop its own research and drug production capabilities, cautioning that relying on foreign aid is unsustainable.

HIV/AIDS in Numbers

• Over 2 million Nigerians were living with HIV at the end of 2024, with the South South and North Central regions most affected.
• Kano State alone accounts for over 50,000 cases.
• More than 51,000 AIDS-related deaths and 74,000 new infections were reported in 2024.

World AIDS Day 2025 focused on the theme: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” The World Health Organization urged stronger political commitment, global cooperation, and human-rights-centered strategies to end AIDS by 2030.