The scourge of HIV/AIDS has been identified as one of the factors responsible for Nigeria's economic decline over the years as a result of its burden on the nation.
This statement was made in Lagos on Wednesday by Ernest Ekong, the national clinical coordinator of the Harvard/President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN). The event was a lecture on the HIV/AIDS pandemic: an economic burden on Nigeria; the journey so far at the 40th annual celebration of the KB club day of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
"Development gains of three decades have been reversed with economic decline of 10-40 percent globally of which Nigeria is among one of the nations greatly affected.
With a population of about 140 million and a prevalence rate of 4.4 percent as at 2005 and an estimated AIDS burden at 1.2 million as at 2003, Nigeria stands a high risk of losing a good number of its working force to AIDS if not properly checked," he said.
Dr. Ekong added that it has also been estimated that in 2010, over 3.4 million people will be infected in Nigeria, while cumulative death will amount to 2.82 million people.
Another speaker at the event, Oladipupo Fisher, a senior project officer of the Lagos state AIDS control agency, advised that the government, business groups, cultural, religious, community and local leaders should form a unified front against the disease to reduce its effects on the nation's economy.
"HIV/AIDS has potential to create severe economic impact, because the productive age group are the worst affected. Ill-health can contribute to impoverishment, because the cost of procuring treatment is a heavy financial burden to both individuals and the government," he said.
"The economic burden of HIV/AIDS cuts across the individual, family, community, industries and the government. Approximately 1-2 percent of hospital beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS patients while cost of treatment is estimated to be about $500 per month," Dr. Fisher added.
Salisu Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of those living with HIV/AIDS, said that the disease is a scourge ravaging the country and as such needs critical approach to curb its menace.
"If I should have a second chance in this life, I will make sure that I prevent myself from HIV/AIDS because of the trauma I went through when I first knew of my status.
"I lost a lot of things along the way, including huge finance in taking care of myself before the subsidy granted to us by the government and PEPFAR, which is a huge burden on their part," he said.
Mr. Ahmed advised the Lagos state government to increase the number of HIV/AIDS care and treatment centres to help more people know their status.