By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – As the world prepares to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day on December 1, leaders of the Muslim community in Plateau State have renewed calls for continuous HIV testing, adherence to treatment, and stronger community-level awareness to curb new infections.

Speaking to worshippers shortly after the Juma’at prayer on Friday at the Bukuru Central Mosque, the Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Alhaji Danladi Garba, reminded Muslims that HIV/AIDS “is still around in society” and urged the faithful to maintain healthy lifestyles.

He appealed to those living with HIV not to despair, stressing that the disease is not a death sentence when managed with proper medical guidance.

The Chairman also spotlighted community-driven strategies, including a premarital HIV test policy requiring intending couples to present their results before marriage, a measure aimed at preventing new infections and encouraging openness about health status.

Garba’s message aligned with this year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” which underscores the importance of uninterrupted treatment and resilient health systems.

Other stakeholders emphasised that early testing, prompt commencement of antiretroviral therapy, and strict medication adherence remain the strongest defence against AIDS-related complications, and reiterated that HIV has become a manageable condition when professional advice is followed.

Isa Ahmed, a Community Volunteer with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), highlighted the need for pregnant women to access antenatal care and undergo screening for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, noting that early detection safeguards both mother and child.

Advocating stronger public engagement, Suleiman Sani of TORRO Centre called for intensified awareness campaigns and uninterrupted access to medical treatment, and reminded of the global target to halt new HIV infections by 2030, saying only consistent advocacy, testing, and treatment can make the goal achievable.

Adding a personal perspective, Ezekiel Afan of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, who has lived with the virus for 27 years, encouraged newly diagnosed individuals to begin treatment immediately.

According to him, “Once you start your medications and adhere to them, you can live a good life and live positively with HIV.”

Stakeholders unanimously urged communities to prioritise knowledge, early intervention, and consistent medical care, warning that treatment defaulting remains a major challenge, and called for strengthened campaigns to ensure that every individual knows their HIV status, receives timely care, and contributes to ending new infections by 2030.