The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised serious concern over the rising number of HIV infections among young women, revealing that about 4,000 women aged between 15 and 24 become newly infected every week.
The foundation disclosed that more than 3,300 of these new infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, a region still battling high transmission rates despite years of global intervention and awareness campaigns.
AHF Nigeria lamented that the persistent vulnerability of young women to HIV remains one of the biggest challenges in the fight against the epidemic.
It stressed that gender inequality, limited access to healthcare, and social stigma continue to fuel the spread of the virus among adolescent girls and young women.
Health experts within the organization noted that young women in low-income communities are often exposed to higher risks due to poverty, early marriage, and lack of sexual education.
They called for stronger policy measures, improved access to preventive care, and more inclusive reproductive health programs across Africa.
The foundation also urged African governments to prioritize the empowerment of young women through education and economic opportunities, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective way to curb new infections.
AHF further called for the expansion of HIV testing and counseling services, particularly in rural areas where healthcare infrastructure remains weak.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working with national agencies and international partners to achieve the United Nations’ goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.