At least 70,000 babies HIV positive in Nigeria

OGUN, Nigeria - The Nigerian government on Thursday said about 70,000 newly born babies in the West African country are HIV positive.

Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) John Idoko disclosed this in Nigeria's southwestern state of Ogun during a call on State governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Idoko also said HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria were prevalent among Nigerian pregnant women.

He stressed that the agency was ready to partner with the Ogun State government on preventive policy.

Idoko called for the improvement of the State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) to be able to fight the spread of the scourge.

According to him, the agency was willing to collaborate with any agency to improve the health status of the Nigerian people.

Idoko urged all levels of government to assist the agency in strengthening the fight against HIV/AIDS and other related diseases, saying the agency would work hard to eliminate mother- to-child transmission.