title: The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria: progress, problems and prospects.
abstract: Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, and is home to the third largest number of persons living with HIV/ AIDS in the world. Poverty, stigma, discrimination, and a poorly coordinated health system constitute major barriers to HIV treatment and prevention efforts. The purpose of this paper is to review the current status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria, analyze the challenges facing provision of HIV/AIDS services, examine the prospects of attaining universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and advance recommendations for developing quality, sustainable and efficient HIV/AIDS services in Nigeria. HIV programs in Nigeria must emphasize sustainability of current foreign-donor driven treatment and prevention initiatives by engaging all segments of the society and enhancing community leadership and ownership of the programs.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Institute for Global Health, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aliyu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varkey
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salihu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iliyasu
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Abubakar
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D057191:Capacity Building; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D058872:Epidemics; D005381:Financing, Organized; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011287:Prejudice