Fighting the silent pandemic, women and young girls in Nigeria have been disproportionally affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. Through marginalisation, lack of resources and cultural stigma, more and more women living with HIV/AIDS don’t have access to resources. As the stigma around these conversations increases, more women at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS don’t have the tools to remain safe, healthy and autonomous.
Over 1 Million women in Nigeria are living with HIV/AIDS. Women 15–49 yrs old are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV than men. Women aged 30-39 have the highest prevalence of HIV at 3.3% compared to the 1.3% national average.
Less than half of women living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria are treated for viral suppression.
Estimated number of Annual New Infections
103,404
Estimated number of Annual Deaths
44,830
With the adverse affects of COVID-19, more Nigerian families are in need of vital resources that create better infrastructures for health. Lack of social protection in Nigeria exposes its population to large welfare losses. Before the pandemic struck, less than 2 percent of Nigerians lived in a household enrolled in the country’s flagship social protection program – the National Social Safety Net Project (NASSP) – and coverage of most other programs was even lower.
Nigerian households have been adopting negative coping strategies like reducing food consumption, decreasing savings and increasing debt in response to the shocks that have accompanied COVID-19. The effects of such coping strategies include malnutrition and increased levels of people becoming immunocompromised.
Red Hot Org is committed to aiding the life saving health organisation in Nigeria that create integral support for communities struggling through these health issues. Destigmatizing important conversations surrounding Kele•le’s mission issues is essential to changing the culture and impact these issues will have on the generation. Reframing young Nigerian women and women of the pan African diaspora as leaders in these conversation creates safe spaces for honest discussion.