Plateau State Agency for the Control of AIDS (PLACA), has joined the World in Commemorating this year’s World AIDS Day with a special commendation to Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his unwavering support in tackling the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the state.
Executive Director of the Agency, Mrs. Esther Turaki gave the commendation at an event to mark the World AIDS Day on Monday at Sarau Event Center in Jos, Plateau State.
She expressed gratitude to the State Government for the supportive disposition since her coming onboard as a substantive Executive Director in February 2024 which gave birth to the great innovations and achievements the state is celebrating.
According to her, the timely intervention of the Governor through100% release of the agency 2025 Budgetary provision, sponsor of 5 State representatives to the last National Council on AIDS in Lagos is not only commendable, but strategic and innovative with far reaching positive impact on the State HIV multi-sectoral response.
“Your Excellency sir, your support to the agency has been swift, timely, and visionary. You have restored confidence, where it was failing. I am sincerely grateful for the deep concern you have shown for people oriented interventions.”
The Executive Director said the support has given them an opportunity to make remarkable progress in the State HIV response with significant drop in the number of new infections from 3850 in 2020 to 2520 in 2024 and increased ART coverage to 92% in 2025 and 47,056 PLHIVs currently on treatment with a viral load suppression rate of 94% as at June, 2025.
However, she said much work need to be done as the global HIV response is at a critical juncture with declining funding and rising health demands that is threatening to reverse all the gains so far made.
Speaking earlier in a press conference as part of activities marking the day, Plateau State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, said the governor has recently approved the release of funds for the procurement of HIV dual test kits which has been distributed to health facilities to enhance testing across the state.
The commissioner said 98,403 people were screened for HIV between January to September, 2025, and 1,910 were found positive with 1859 currently on anti-retroviral therapy, ART, which indicates that the infection is still much around.
He estimated the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Plateau State at 51,370, with 47,056 on ART, with breakdown of 14,001 males and 33,055 females. Children on ART are 1,835, out of which 882 are males while females are 953.
He said out of 30,743, pregnant women tested for HIV between January to September, 2025, the results revealed that 39 women are positive and have all been linked to care.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response”.
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