The Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the control of Aids (CR-SACA), Dr. Charles Iwara, has dismissed reports alleging that Cross River State has the second-highest HIV prevalence in Nigeria, describing the claim as false and misleading.
Dr. Iwara made this clarification during a courtesy visit by the Cross River State Chapter of the Nigerian Key Population Health and Rights Network to his office in Calabar.
He stated that Cross River State has never recorded an HIV prevalence above 1.8 percent, attributing the sustained low rate to continuous prevention, treatment, and community-based interventions across the State.
As part of effort to sustain prevention efforts, Dr. Iwara disclosed that activities have been lined up for February 13th, 2026 to commemorate the International Condom Day to create awareness on correct and effective use of condom.
He said condoms and other preventive materials would be distributed to members of the public as part of efforts to scale up awareness and reduce new infections.
Reaffirming the agency’s openness to collaboration, the CR-SACA Director General noted that the agency remains willing to work with all organizations and initiatives committed to ending HIV, stressing the need for continuity, accountability, and effective service delivery.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the Nigerian Key Population Health and Rights Network, Prince Ita Ekpenyong, commended CR-SACA for its leadership and sustained support for key population programs.
He underscored the importance of community engagement alongside the distribution of HIV test kits and other commodities to enhance local participation and ownership of interventions.
Prince Ekpenyong also called for increased documentation and visibility of the state’s achievements in HIV response, noting that showcasing success stories to the international community would strengthen advocacy efforts and attract further support.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of CR-SACA and key population organizations to sustaining low HIV prevalence and strengthening public health outcomes in Cross River State.
Asari Eso
