<h4>Alarming Spread Of Sexually Transmitted Infections</h4>
<p><strong><a href="https://openlife.ng/">OpenLife Nigeria</a></strong> reports that senior physicians have expressed concern that Nigeria may witness a surge in new Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other sexually transmitted infections following a 55 per cent decline in condom distribution across the country.<br />
According to the medical professionals, condoms remain one of the most accessible and effective preventive tools, especially among young people and high-risk groups.<br />
They noted that reduced availability could widen existing gaps in sexual health access, thereby increasing exposure to HIV and other infections among Nigerians.<br />
The experts were reacting to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS report, which revealed that condom distribution in Nigeria fell by 55 per cent over the past year.<br />
“Nigeria recorded a 55 per cent drop in condom distribution,” UNAIDS said at the launch of its 2025 World AIDS Day report, ‘Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response’.<br />
According to the UN agency, failure to restore prevention efforts could lead to an additional 3.3 million new HIV infections between 2025 and 2030.<br />
HIV is still a major public health problem in the country, with about two million Nigerians currently living with the infection.<br />
A new survey by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS indicates that Nigeria has an HIV prevalence of 1.3 per cent.<br />
In January, the US Government paused all foreign assistance.<br />
The sudden pause had an immediate impact on the delivery of life-saving HIV medicines and the provision of HIV prevention services to millions of people whose lives depend on them.<br />
New HIV infections have risen by eight percent and AIDS-related deaths by 10 percent since 2019, highlighting critical gaps in prevention, testing, treatment and care services, particularly for key populations, according to the World Health Organisation.<br />
Experts have raised concerns that the lack of funds could adversely affect the availability of drugs and testing kits, leading to a stall in the progress made in combating HIV and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.<br />
Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, the experts warned that the sharp drop highlighted by UNAIDS poses a major setback to ongoing national efforts aimed at curbing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.<br />
A Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Control at Ebonyi State University, Lawrence Ogbonnaya, said the risky behaviour around sex among Nigerians may predispose many to infections with a drop in condom circulation.<br />
“When people have multiple sexual partners, and they are not practising protected sex — which means using a condom — the likelihood of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections increases,” he said.<br />
Ogbonnaya, who is a researcher on HIV/TB Management Control, said while condoms do not protect 100 per cent, the decline in distribution would drive up infection rates.<br />
“We know that young people engage in what we call high-risk behaviour around sex. They do things that enhance HIV transmission. If they use condoms, it protects to an extent — although condoms still have up to a 7–10% failure rate for many reasons.<br />
“But generally, condoms are known to protect against sexually transmitted infections, even though they are not an absolute protection. So, if there is a decline in condom distribution in the country, in principle, it will negatively impact HIV transmission,” he said.<br />
With the country already battling funding shortfalls and rising treatment demands, the infectious disease expert urged the government to invest in health and address the supply disruption.<br />
“So what the government needs to do is take charge of the health sector and understand that if they don’t invest in health, nobody will do it for us. We must put more money into the health system to ensure good health. There is no other way,” Ogbonnaya said.<br />
On whether the government should make condoms free in health centers, the don said, “Sex is a personal thing. I wouldn’t advise the government to make condoms free. Instead, perhaps condom services should become part of what health insurance covers. In that case, people are contributing towards it, and the government is contributing. It shouldn’t be free.<br />
“We have more serious needs. If there is any service that should be free, it should be malaria treatment — it is killing more people than HIV/AIDS. Even at the peak of HIV in Nigeria, malaria was killing more people. So no, I would not advise the government to make condoms free.<br />
“However, if Nigeria had an enabling environment for manufacturers to produce condoms locally, the price would come down,” he said.<br />
Also speaking, a Professor of <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/">Public Health</a> at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande, described the drop in condom distribution in Nigeria as massive.<br />
According to him, condoms are used mainly as contraceptives and for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS.<br />
He noted that a 55 per cent drop in condom distribution is massive and can significantly increase transmission of HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies, particularly among teenagers.<br />
“The sharp decline in distribution will certainly affect the availability of condoms, which are used to prevent HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancies. Unwanted pregnancies will lead to increased population, rise in unsafe abortions, abandoned babies, and school drop out, particularly among school-age girls.<br />
“HIV Transmission will be on the increase, and this will reverse the gains made over the years in reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Sadly, the cut in US support for the control of HIV/AIDS will make treatment more difficult to access in Nigeria. A rise in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has effects on health care delivery and also has economic implications for the country,” he said.<br />
The seasoned public health physician, however, urged the government to intensify efforts to reduce the gap in the supply and distribution of condoms by allocating funds to procure and subsidise the cost of condoms.<br />
The don also stressed that health education should be intensified on risky sexual behaviour, particularly targeting teenagers and young adults.<br />
On practical strategies the government can adopt to bridge the distribution gap, he said, “The government should intensify efforts to produce condoms locally. Nigeria should be able to produce enough condoms locally. Industries that are interested in investing in condom production can be encouraged with tax waivers.”</p>
<p>Source: Punch</p>

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