HIV treatment coverage for pregnant women drops to 83% in 2026
Nigeria's antiretroviral treatment coverage for HIV-positive pregnant women fell from 98% in 2025 to 83% in 2026, while viral suppression among pregnant and breastfeeding women dropped from 95% to 79%, according to the 2026 Joint Annual Review Statistical Book presented in Abuja on November 10.
The Federal Ministry of Health report shows a troubling reversal in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) efforts, even as national HIV indicators improved elsewhere. Overall ART coverage among all people living with HIV rose from 78% to 82%, viral suppression on treatment improved from 94% to 95%, and newly detected cases declined from 108,230 to 70,356.
However, new advanced HIV diagnoses increased slightly from 19,747 to 20,162. Minister of State for Health Iziaq Salako warned in July 2025 that Nigeria still records over 9,000 new pediatric HIV infections yearly. The government's state of emergency on PMTCT remains active.
Without treatment, mother-to-child transmission risk ranges from 15-45% per WHO. The decline in pregnant women's coverage threatens progress toward eliminating pediatric HIV.
If you're pregnant or planning pregnancy, will you prioritize early HIV testing and immediate treatment enrollment to protect your baby?