Sodiq Ojuroungbe The Christian Council of Nigeria has decried the huge burden of HIV in the country, noting that an estimated 160,000 children live with the disease, while only 45,000 are receiving treatment. The council stated this at the close-out ceremony of the HIV intervention programme implemented in collaboration with the World Council of Churches in Abuja over the weekend. The CCN President, Most Rev.
David Onuoha, who was represented by Archbishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa, decried the high number of children living with HIV in Nigeria, stressing the need for urgent action to address the situation. He called on the government at all levels and the relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to combat the spread of the disease among children. He said, “Our mission is to identify with the needy and less privileged and to make a positive impact on their lives.
“Our efforts have been enriching and impactful. We are committed to combating the HIV epidemic in our society, and we urge all relevant NGOs and government agencies to join us in this crusade. “While we have made some progress in preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to child, we still have much work to do.
According to statistics, Nigeria has a high number of children who are HIV victims – 160,000, with only 45,000 undergoing treatment. This is unacceptable, and we must do more to address this issue.” The WCC representative, Ms Gracias Ross, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeri.
