HIV/AIDS is a growing menace in Nigeria. The country now accounts for nearly 10 percent of the HIV/AIDS burden in the world, with 4 million of its citizens seropositive. Without urgent action this number may more than double by 2010. One million orphans have already been created by the disease and this may reach 3 million by the end of the decade. A significant national response was slow to develop, and fear, stigma, and discrimination against PLWHA are high. Efforts to develop and disseminate behavior change messages are increasing and condoms are widely available but other basic prevention, treatment, care and support capacity and infrastructure is weak, with service delivery being largely in the hands of the private and NGO sectors.

Nigeria is a large country with a serious HIV/AIDS problem and available USAID resources are insufficient to support a nationwide program. SO14 will therefore focus its program in six key states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja. These states have 25 percent of Nigeria’s population and an equivalent proportion of the HIV/AIDS burden. The SO will also focus on “most at risk populations” (MARPs), such as prostitutes, truck drivers, uniformed personnel, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). PLWHA and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) will be targeted for treatment, care and support interventions. The SO will seek to increase demand for and access to quality prevention, treatment, care and support services. Collaboration with partners in the Nigerian public and private sectors and in the donor community will be crucial to improving the enabling environment. The SO will report on seroprevalence among 15 – 24 year olds, prevention of mother to child transmission, and care and support to PLWHA and OVC, as well as core behavior change indicators.