HIV: AHF Raises Alarm as Girls Face Up to 3 Times Higher Risk Than Male  Peers

By Praise Chinecherem

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised the alarm over the disproportionate burden of HIV among adolescent girls and young women, warning that poverty, gender inequality and financial dependence continue to undermine efforts to protect them from infection.

The organisation said adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 were two to three times more likely to acquire HIV than their male counterparts in the same age group, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

In a statement issued on Tuesday to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, AHF-Nigeria called for stronger government interventions to tackle the social and economic barriers that leave millions of girls vulnerable to HIV.

It identified poverty, limited access to health information, inadequate economic opportunities and restrictive gender norms as factors contributing to the heightened risk.

The organisation noted that patriarchal practices and financial dependence often prevent girls from making independent decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

It added that the inability to afford menstrual products, dropping out of school and depending on others for financial support could further limit girls’ ability to protect their health and pursue opportunities.

Girls Act: AHF Pushes Empowerment as HIV Prevention Strategy

To address these challenges, AHF-Nigeria highlighted its Girls Act programme, a global initiative launched in 2016 to empower girls through HIV prevention, education, economic opportunities and leadership development.

Built around the principle of “For Girls, By Girls,” the programme started in five countries and has expanded to nearly 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

AHF-Nigeria disclosed that more than 4,500 girls were actively participating in the programme as of 2026, while over one million sanitary pads had been distributed through the initiative.

Beyond HIV awareness, the programme supports girls living with HIV to remain on treatment and equips other participants with information on prevention, sexual health and informed decision-making.

It also provides menstrual health products, teaches girls to produce reusable sanitary pads and helps those who have dropped out of school pursue opportunities to return.

Abuja, Benue Girls Receive Vocational Training

In Abuja and Benue State, participants have benefited from vocational training in tie-dye, bead-making, tote-bag production and snack-making.

The training is designed to equip girls with practical, income-generating skills, reduce financial dependence and expand their economic opportunities.

The programme also promotes leadership development through mentorship, advocacy and participation in decision-making.

Boys are included in the initiative to encourage them to contribute to creating supportive environments for girls and advancing gender equality.

In Nigeria, AHF is implementing a leadership academy in partnership with Education as a Vaccine (EVA) to strengthen girls’ leadership capacity and encourage their participation in advocacy.

AHF Demands Government Funding for Girls’ Programmes

The organisation called on federal and state governments to adopt and adequately fund the Girls Act model, integrating it into national and state HIV response strategies, education policies and youth development programmes.

It urged authorities to prioritise funding for menstrual health services, vocational training, start-up support for out-of-school girls, school retention programmes and improved access to HIV testing, treatment and care.

AHF-Nigeria maintained that HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women must go beyond awareness campaigns to address the inequalities that limit their choices and opportunities.

The organisation stressed that investing in girls’ education, health and economic independence was essential to reducing their vulnerability to HIV and enabling them to make informed decisions about their futures.

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