The Director-General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KSACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, has revealed that the state currently has about 42,000 diagnosed HIV patients who are receiving free treatment across 43 comprehensive health facilities.
Dr. Bashir disclosed this during an interview with Solacebase over the weekend, warning that Kano’s HIV burden may be higher than officially recorded due to low testing rates across the state and country.
According to him, Nigeria has yet to meet the global 95-95-95 target – a strategy which requires that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
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“We cannot say there is an increase or decrease because the country is not testing enough. The only way to know is by scaling up testing,” Dr. Bashir said. “So far this year, we have diagnosed about 4,000 new cases, similar to last year’s figures. This shows the numbers are not dropping.”
State Government Steps Up Funding, Takes Over HIV Response
Dr. Bashir noted that HIV interventions in Kano were previously over 80% funded by international partners, leaving the state heavily dependent on external support. However, the current government has taken full leadership of the HIV response.
He praised the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for releasing ₦300 million in 2024 to procure HIV test kits for pregnant women and the general population.
“We are now the drivers of the response. The government is supportive and committed. With the releases we have received, we are able to sustain testing and treatment services,” he said.
The DG added that the state runs 592 testing sites across public, private, and faith-based facilities, all offering HIV tests free of charge.
KSACA Expands Outreach to Neglected Populations
As part of activities marking the 2024 World AIDS Day, KSACA conducted a large-scale outreach at the Kano Correctional Facility, where inmates were screened for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and syphilis.
Dr. Bashir described it as an “eye opener”, stressing that prisons, remand homes, orphanages, and homes for people needing special care have been neglected for years.
He also announced that the agency will soon host a special program with persons living with disabilities to design policies tailored to their needs, particularly those living with HIV.
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Premarital Screening Law Gains Acceptance
Speaking on the new premarital screening law in Kano – which mandates HIV, hepatitis, and sickle cell tests before marriage – Dr. Bashir said enforcement has not fully begun, but the public is already cooperating.
KSACA recently held a sensitization session with Jumu’at mosque imams and church pastors, who have agreed not to conduct marriages without the mandatory health certificate.
“No marriage is being consummated in Kano without the certificate. Once religious leaders are aligned, enforcement becomes natural,” he said.
Growing Threat of Rising HIV Cases Among Youth
The KSACA DG raised concern over rising HIV infections among young people, noting that lack of awareness and risky behavior remain major drivers.
He said the agency is developing targeted youth programs to strengthen prevention efforts and promote the right information on HIV transmission and protection.
“The numbers show that we must double our preventive measures, especially for young adults who lack adequate information,” he warned.