By Ojoma Akor
A public health expert says harm reduction is fast emerging as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s HIV prevention response, as rising levels of drug use among young people and the sharing of needles continue to drive new infections.
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN)’s Lead for Prevention and Key Populations, Mrs. Comfort Ochigbo, told Health and Science Africa that this growing vulnerability is placing adolescents and young people at heightened risk of HIV transmission, demanding urgent and sustained intervention.
She said that Nigeria currently implements 10 harm reduction intervention packages, which have now been expanded to 11 under the Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), with psychosocial support added as a key component.
She highlighted that understanding the drivers of drug use among young people is essential to addressing their vulnerabilities.
“To truly understand the challenges predisposing young people to the harmful effects of drug use, it is important to identify the causes and how these vices have impacted them,” she said.
Ochigbo explained that harm reduction uses peer-led, person-centered approaches to understand these challenges better and improve access to tailored community services.
She added that IHVN has strengthened its focus on person-centered care by addressing key drivers such as poverty, peer influence, and mental health challenges, stressing the need for integrated approaches that promote behavioral change and informed decision-making.
Ochigbo noted that IHVN’s implementation is anchored on HIV combination prevention services, supported by tools used to measure program effectiveness. These include HIV testing services and TB screening as part of integrated TB/HIV care. She explained that the program also provides needle and syringe services to reduce sharing among people who inject drugs.
She said, “We provide tailored services where new, clean needles and syringes are made available to ensure there is no sharing that may expose individuals to blood-borne infections such as hepatitis and HIV.”
In addition, she said the combination prevention package includes Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) services for individuals at risk of HIV infection, delivered through a choice-based approach that allows clients to access services based on their needs and preferences. Hepatitis C screening is also part of the intervention package.
According to her, psychosocial support, mental health services, and gender-based violence screening remain critical components of the program, helping to identify vulnerabilities and link individuals to appropriate care.
