NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HIV AND AIDS TREATMENT AND CARE IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS
Guideline · Health
Guidelines set evidence-based protocols for HIV treatment and care for adolescents and adults in Nigeria. They target clinicians, nurses, hospitals, and people living with HIV. This aims to standardize care and reduce HIV-related deaths.
NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HIV AND AIDS TREATMENT AND CARE IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS
What Is This Policy?
Evidence-based clinical guidelines for healthcare providers on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and comprehensive care for HIV-positive adolescents and adults in Nigeria, aligned with WHO recommendations.
Who Does It Target?
Clinicians and nurses managing HIV patients Hospitals and health facilities providing ART PLHIV receiving treatment State AIDS Control Agencies (SACAs) supervising treatment programmes
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Standardise HIV treatment and care across Nigeria, optimise patient outcomes, reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and progress towards the 95-95-95 treatment targets.
Key Features
ART Protocols: Prescribes first-line, second-line, and third-line ART regimens based on WHO recommendations and Nigerian disease patterns. Monitoring: Specifies viral load testing schedules and CD4 count monitoring requirements. Opportunistic Infections: Provides protocols for prophylaxis and treatment of common opportunistic infections. Adherence Support: Includes strategies for supporting patient adherence to ART.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active — implemented at all ART treatment sites Coverage: All ART-providing health facilities nationwide Beneficiaries: HIV-positive adolescents and adults; healthcare providers Funding: Federal Ministry of Health; PEPFAR; Global Fund
How to Access
Download from NACA or FMOH websites Healthcare workers must be trained on current guidelines ART initiation and management follow these guidelines at all treatment sites Application method: Access at https://www.naca.gov.ng or https://www.health.gov.ng
Important Terms
Guidelines are updated periodically as evidence evolves — always use the most current version Same-day ART initiation for newly diagnosed patients is now standard Viral load monitoring is the preferred method for treatment monitoring
Impact & Metrics
Nigeria has over 1.9 million people on ART, making it one of the world's largest HIV treatment programmes.
Official Resources
Website: https://www.naca.gov.ng Contact: National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) / Federal Ministry of Health
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act 2014, the National Policy on HIV/AIDS, and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Act. Draws on WHO HIV treatment guidelines, the PEPFAR programme frameworks, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria operational guidelines.