Well done Nigeria team!

I was in Nigeria last month to visit our team there. In Nigeria, an estimated 3.1 percent of adults between ages 15-49 are living with HIV and AIDS. Although the HIV prevalence is much lower in Nigeria than in several other African countries, the size of Nigeria’s population (around 140 million) means that by the end of 2007, there were more than 2.5 million people infected with HIV.

It’s shocking that, despite being the largest oil producer in Africa and the 12th largest in the world, Nigeria is ranked 158 out of 177 on the United Nations Development Programme Human Poverty Index. This poor economic position has meant that Nigeria is faced with huge challenges in fighting its HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Save the Children has recently secured a US $8 million grant from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Nigeria — our colleagues in Nigeria have done a fantastic job. The grant will support a five-year project that will help provide care, treatment and support for children affected by HIV. We will do this by working with local communities and the Nigerian Government.

This project will help save young children’s lives in Nigeria by strengthening health and protection services. It’s what our EVERY ONE campaign is all about.