NEPHWAN wants increased CD4 testing for people living with HIV/AIDS

The Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, has called for increased CD4 testing to reduce the HIV/ AIDS burden in the country. The National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Abdulkadir Ibrahim made the call during an advocacy engagement on its AHD/AIDS projects with relevant stakeholders in Abuja. The CD4 count is a test that […]

The Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, has called for increased CD4 testing to reduce the HIV/ AIDS burden in the country.

The National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Abdulkadir Ibrahim made the call during an advocacy engagement on its AHD/AIDS projects with relevant stakeholders in Abuja.

The CD4 count is a test that measures how many CD4 cells you have in your blood. These are a type of white blood cell that move through the body to find and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other germs.

He said that over 600, 000 people have died globally as a result of AIDS, adding that there is a need for relevant stakeholders to improve funding and efforts to end AIDS-related deaths.

“Opportunistic infections such as Tuberculosis and Cryptococcal meningitis are drivers of high AIDS-related deaths and numbers of people living with HIV annually.

“Our aim is to increase the knowledge capacity of our people living with HIV and their families about Advanced HIV disease (AHD) through awareness, treatment, literacy on TB and Cryptococcosis screening” he added.

The Country Director for UNAIDS, Dr. Leo Zekeng said the global fast track target to reduce AIDS-related deaths below 500 by 2020 was not met.

He said this is because key populations continue to be left behind missing the much-needed information on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.