As Liberia prepares to observe the International Day for People Living with HIV/AIDS, the National AIDS Commission has disclosed that an estimated 36,000 Liberians are currently living with the virus, representing a national prevalence rate of 0.9 percent.
This marks a decline from the 2.1 percent prevalence reported in the 2013 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS). Of the current figure, women account for 21,000 cases.
Commission Chairperson Dr. Cecelia J. Nuta highlighted significant progress in testing and treatment coverage. She revealed that 31,000 people have been tested and know their HIV status, while 30,798 are currently on treatment. Encouragingly, 95 percent of those on treatment are virally suppressed, a milestone she described as critical to achieving epidemic control.
“We celebrate these milestones but let us be reminded that sustaining the gains we’ve made is only possible when we take full responsibility for our health,” Dr. Nuta said.
She recalled that a temporary freeze on foreign aid by the U.S. government earlier this year disrupted critical HIV services, underscoring the risks of overreliance on external support. While the disruptions were significant, Dr. Nuta noted they also created an opportunity for renewed national commitment.
Reflecting on the national theme— “Mobilizing Domestic Support While Transforming the AIDS Response”—she emphasized that while international assistance has been transformative, it was never intended to replace national responsibility. The aid freeze, she warned, demonstrated how quickly essential services can collapse when domestic systems lack resilience.
Dr. Nuta therefore called on the Liberian government to increase domestic funding through budgetary appropriation to the national HIV response.
“A stronger national financial commitment will protect the gains we have already secured, ensure continuity of lifesaving services, and reinforce our ability to reach epidemic control,” she said. “With adequate domestic resources, the National HIV response will be better positioned to deliver sustained, high-impact interventions that safeguard the health and productivity of our citizens.”
