Fact-Checking Aproko Doctor’s Claims on Nigeria’s HIV Statistics

Dr. Chinonso Egemba’s claims about Nigeria’s HIV statistics are incorrect. He asserted Nigeria has the second-highest number of HIV cases, but it is actually fourth globally, with 2 million infections. Additionally, he cited outdated figures regarding new infections, which have declined significantly to 75,000 in 2023. The impact of US aid cuts on Nigeria’s healthcare system raises further concerns.

Recently, healthcare influencer Dr. Chinonso Egemba, known as Aproko Doctor, made assertions about Nigeria’s HIV statistics, claiming it has the second-highest number of people living with HIV globally. However, Nigeria actually ranks fourth, following South Africa, India, and Mozambique, according to data from the United Nations HIV/Aids program, which estimated that in 2023, there were 2 million individuals living with HIV in Nigeria.

Dr. Egemba further stated that there were 200,000 new HIV infections annually in Nigeria. This figure is outdated by a decade as 2023 data indicates new infections have more than halved. In fact, UNAids reported 75,000 new infections in 2023, showcasing a significant decline from prior years.

The cuts to US aid, particularly affecting the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), have jeopardized Nigeria’s HIV treatment efforts. Pepfar, which has contributed approximately $7.8 billion since its inception in 2003, finances around 90% of HIV care in Nigeria. There are growing concerns regarding the impact of these funding reductions on healthcare structures in the country.

UNAids maintains that in 2023, Nigeria ranks fourth globally in terms of HIV cases, with an estimated total of 39.9 million people diagnosed worldwide. South Africa leads with 7.7 million, with India and Mozambique following. Mary Mahy, UNAids Director, emphasizes the uniform methodology applied to collect such data to ensure comparability among nations.

Experts have responded to the misinformation regarding Nigeria’s HIV statistics. Tanimola Akande, a public health professor, highlights that Nigeria’s dependency on foreign funding for health programs poses a significant risk amidst funding cuts. The World Health Organization cited Nigeria as one of eight countries poised to deplete its HIV medicine stock soon.

Aproko Doctor recently shared a UNICEF report indicating Nigeria had 190,950 new HIV/AIDS infections per year. However, this figure stemmed from a 2015 report, rendering the information outdated as HIV statistics have evolved significantly, with UNAids data reflecting only 75,000 new infections in 2023. Misleading statistics not only breed panic but can also foster complacency regarding public health efforts, according to communication expert Theresa Amobi.

In summary, Aproko Doctor’s claims regarding Nigeria’s HIV statistics have been fact-checked and found to be inaccurate. While he asserted that Nigeria has the second-highest number of HIV cases, the correct ranking is fourth. Moreover, the claim of 200,000 new infections annually is significantly outdated, as more recent data shows a dramatic decline to 75,000 new cases. Given the ongoing challenges with funding cuts to HIV programs, strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system is imperative to maintaining progress against the epidemic.

Original Source: africacheck.org