AS the world commemorates International Workers’ Day today, Thursday, May 1, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has raised concerns over persistent stigma and discrimination against people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in workplaces across Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, NACA called on employers, labour unions, and government agencies to promote inclusive work environments that uphold the rights and dignity of all workers, especially those living with or affected by HIV.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system by attacking white blood cells, making individuals more vulnerable to illnesses such as tuberculosis, various infections, and certain cancers.
The virus is transmitted through the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions and can also be passed from a mother to her child.
The statement, signed by the NACA Director-General, Temitope Ilori, stressed that “nearly two million Nigerians are living with HIV”, many of whom he said are part of the active workforce.
“As the world marks International Workers’ Day, we honour the contributions of workers everywhere and reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive, supportive workplaces for all, including those living with or affected by HIV.
“Workplaces are more than sites of labour, they are communities. On this day, we call on employers, unions, and government bodies to champion HIV awareness, education, and zero-discrimination policies in the workplace,” he said.
The NACA warned that the dual burden of managing a chronic health condition and enduring workplace stigma could severely affect productivity and mental wellbeing.
“With almost two million people living with HIV in Nigeria, many are part of our workforce, contributing every day while facing the double burden of health challenges and societal stigma. We must ensure that HIV is never a barrier to employment, dignity, or opportunity.
“As we build a fair and safe work environment, let us remember that health rights are human rights. Together, we can create a world where every worker, regardless of their HIV status, is treated with respect, fairness, and care,” he added.
The ICIR reports that despite significant progress in the national HIV response, including expanded access to treatment and prevention services, stigma remains a key barrier to combating the epidemic. According to a report, out of the over two million people living with HIV in Nigeria, 1.7 million of them know their HIV status.
Rivers tops the list of the most affected states with 208,767 cases, followed by Benue State with 202,346 cases. Akwa Ibom have 161,597 reported cases, while Lagos also reported 108,649 cases of the virus.
NACA estimates that out of the 1.7 million people living with HIV, 1,693,457 are adults—579,209 males and 1,114,401 females. Additionally, about 54,983 children aged 0–14 have also been confirmed to be living with the disease.
While there is no cure for HIV infection, access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, has made HIV infection a manageable chronic health condition and enabled people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
NACA noted that access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has also improved considerably, with 1,735,808 people currently receiving treatment.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M