The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA says over 44,000 Nigerian drug users who exchange needles and syringes in groups while ingesting drugs are responsible for the spread of HIV in the country.
NACA Director-General Gambo Aliyu announced this in Abuja, at the presentation of the Evaluation report on Assessment of Pilot Needle and Syringe programme for people who ingest Drugs in Nigeria.
He also noted that the exchange of needles and syringes by drug users was one of the greatest causes of the spread of HIV, Hepatitis and other diseases.
In her remarks, the Federal Ministry of Health, Akudo Ikpeazu applauded the agency for a job well done, saying the pilot project was imperative in reducing the spread of HIV.
She also expressed optimism that the report would go a long way to reduce the spread of HIV in the pilot states in particular and in Nigeria in general.
Also, Managing Director, Society for Family Health Omokhudu Idogho, expressed pleasure with the report and affirmed the determination of the society to continue to identify with NACA for its successes.
She however explained that the project offered the opportunity to engage about 2,700 persons that ingest drugs so that they could stop sharing needles.
