The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, refuted a report made on Twitter claiming a recent Red Cross outreach revealed an increase in HIV cases in Abuja.
A doctor with a Twitter handle @Firstdoctors had last week shared a tweet saying Red Cross ran a test on 197 persons in Abuja and 119 of the tests came out positive, urging people to protect themselves and stop playing games with their lives.
Reacting to his tweet, NACA asked the doctor to confirm when and where the outreach happened. The doctor who appeared not to have the answers to the question deleted his tweet.
Speaking on Monday, NACA in a statement said described the information as false.
The statement read partly: “Statement on high HIV prevalence rates in Abuja: After investigation and reaching out to The Nigerian Red Cross Society (#nrcs_ng), CSOs, CBOs, and other Implementing Partners IPs operating in Abuja, we confirm the statement is entirely FALSE. #HIVPrevention #SafeSex.
“There was no outreach conducted in Abuja, and the claim that 199 people tested positive out of 197 is false. The accurate data shows that Abuja’s HIV prevalence rate remains at 1.3%, while Nigeria has a prevalence rate of 1.3%.
Additionally, it is essential to clarify that no outreach anywhere in Nigeria could yield a positive rate of 60%. Such a high prevalence rate is not possible in Nigeria or any other country. The false statement has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities that deal with misinformation for appropriate actions.
“As the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, we are dedicated to promoting safe sexual practices, including advocating for abstinence and the correct use of condoms to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
However, we strongly condemn the use of false statistics to drive this critical message. It is essential to disseminate accurate information to effectively combat HIV/AIDS and promote public health.
“We urge all Nigerians to be faithful to their partners and consistently practice safe sex to protect themselves and others from HIV and other infections. Remember, health is wealth, and each of us must take responsibility for our well-being.”
