The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has sounded a major alarm over the rising number of HIV infections among young women, revealing that approximately 4,000 young women contract HIV weekly across the globe with more than 3,300 of those cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
The staggering figure underscores a growing public health emergency that disproportionately affects girls and young women aged 15 to 24. The revelation came in a statement issued ahead of the 2025 International Day of the Girl (IDG), with AHF calling for urgent, targeted interventions to protect the next generation.
Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, linked the crisis to deep-rooted social and systemic inequalities. “Every week, thousands of young women become infected with HIV due to inequality, limited education, and poor access to health services,” he said. He added that an estimated 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV globally in 2023, a figure significantly higher than that of their male counterparts.
In response, Steve Aborisade, AHF Nigeria’s Advocacy and Marketing Manager, urged governments at all levels to increase investments in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment programs. He also emphasized the need to strengthen education and reproductive health policies to address the root causes of vulnerability among young women.
To mark the International Day of the Girl, AHF Nigeria will host an empowerment event on October 10 at Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku Ubo, Uyo. The event will highlight key areas such as menstrual health, leadership, and education, while also showcasing innovative projects by young girls. Free sanitary pads will be distributed to participants as part of the foundation’s commitment to improving girls’ health and dignity.
The commemoration will feature collaboration with prominent civil society organizations, including CISHAN, CCCRN, and ECEWS, alongside representatives from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Women Affairs. This united effort reflects the urgent need for sustained partnerships to empower young girls and curb the spread of HIV.
The International Day of the Girl, celebrated globally on October 11, serves as an annual reminder to recognize the achievements of girls and advocate for policies that ensure their protection, education, and health. The alarming statistic that 4,000 young women contract HIV weekly highlights why global and local actions must accelerate to build a safer, more equitable future for all girls.
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