The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has expressed concern over the growing HIV infection rate among young women worldwide, revealing that about 4,000 girls aged 15 to 24 contract HIV every week globally.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborishade, to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl.
“Globally, adolescent girls and young women face a disproportionate HIV burden.
In spite of progress, the numbers remain alarming, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,” the statement read.
According to AHF, more than 3,300 of the 4,000 weekly infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the region’s continued vulnerability.
“In 2023 alone, 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV worldwide. This compares to 1.2 million boys and young men in the same age group, highlighting a severe gender disparity in global HIV prevalence among youth,” AHF noted.
The organisation also identified education barriers as a major contributor to the crisis, with 133 million girls globally out of school, cutting off key pathways to health, independence, and long-term well-being.
AHF called for increased investment in HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment, as well as better access to healthcare for adolescent girls and young women. It further urged action to tackle period poverty, promote comprehensive sexuality education, and combat gender-based violence and child marriage, which remain key drivers of health inequality.
“The International Day of the Girl is commemorated annually on October 11 to spotlight challenges facing girls and advocate for their empowerment and rights,” the statement added.
To mark this year’s celebration, AHF Nigeria announced plans to host an educational event on October 10 at Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku Ubo Offot, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The event aims to protect girls from HIV, honour their achievements, and promote educational and health opportunities for them. It will feature menstrual hygiene education, leadership talks, and innovation showcases, with selected participants receiving awards and gifts.
According to Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria’s Country Programme Director, the initiative will also address issues such as menstrual health, gender-based violence, and limited access to reproductive health services.
“Free sanitary pads will be distributed during the event, and participating girls will be linked to mentorship and leadership development opportunities,” Ijezie said.
The programme will be attended by civil society partners, government officials, and the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs.
AHF remains the world’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, offering medical services and advocacy to over 2.5 million people across 50 countries, including Nigeria.