By: Ben TC Brooks
The National AIDS Commission of Liberia (NAC) has reported that nearly 36,000 Liberians are currently living with HIV/AIDS, marking a slight yet troubling rise from the 34,000 cases recorded in 2024.
The Commission says the uptick underscores persistent vulnerabilities in the national response and highlights the need for intensified public health interventions.
Announcing the updated figures, NAC Chairperson Dr. Cecelia Nuta emphasized that women continue to make up the majority of those affected by the virus.
She attributed the trend to entrenched social, cultural, and economic inequalities that place women at greater risk of infection.
“Despite meaningful progress in treatment coverage and awareness efforts, women in Liberia still face disproportionate exposure to HIV,” Dr. Nuta said. “This reality demands stronger, more targeted prevention strategies, especially for adolescent girls and young women.”
Dr. Nuta warned that the continued rise in new infections reflects ongoing gaps in prevention, education, and health-care access.
She stressed that greater domestic investment is urgently needed to strengthen the country’s capacity to provide reliable prevention, testing, and long-term treatment services.
With World AIDS Day approaching on December 1, NAC is urging government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners to reinforce their support for communities living with or affected by HIV.
However, this year’s commemoration is expected to focus heavily on advancing equality in access to health services and reducing stigma.
According to a released, NAC top priorities include expanding access to testing and counseling services, especially in remote and underserved communities, reducing stigma and discrimination, which continue to prevent many Liberians from seeking timely treatment and trengthening health education programs, with a specific focus on young women, adolescents, and rural populations.
Agency therefore mentioned ensuring consistent funding to avoid treatment disruptions that could lead to drug resistance and increased transmission rates
Meanwhile, Dr. Nuta reiterated that without reliable financial support, Liberia risks losing the hard-won gains achieved over the last decade. Interruptions in treatment or prevention programs, she noted, could reverse progress and contribute to a more widespread public health challenge.
She added thatnthenCommission will release a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS status report during the upcoming World AIDS Day observance.
The report is expected to detail current infection trends, key challenges, and renewed strategies aimed at strengthening Liberia’s long-term fight against HIV and building a more resilient national health system.
