A civil society organisation has called for the adoption of the Girls Act model as a strategy to reduce HIV infections among young girls, warning that the disease remains prevalent, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.
The call was made on Tuesday during activities to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child in Abuja. It follows concerns that women and adolescent girls bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections compared with men and boys, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The advocacy group noted that HIV could be better controlled if girls living with HIV were supported to remain on treatment, while those who were HIV-negative learned skills to prevent new infections and make informed decisions.
According to the Advocacy Lead at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Steve Aborisade, although significant progress has been recorded in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, more work is needed to support young girls and vulnerable women.
Quoting the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Aborisade said women account for more than 50 per cent of people living with HIV globally and roughly 60 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years are up to two to three times more likely to acquire HIV than young males of the same age.
“Biologically, women face a roughly two-fold higher acquisition risk per unprotected heterosexual act due to a larger mucosal surface area and longer exposure to seminal fluids.”
The UNAIDS data further indicated that many people living with HIV do not know their status and that concerted efforts are still needed to improve young people’s knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention.
“Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years face distinct physiological, psychological, legal and social factors that make them disproportionately vulnerable to low uptake of HIV testing,” the data indicated.
AHF, however, said patriarchy weighs heavily on women and girls and, combined with poverty and limited information, narrows their choices long before they can decide the terms of their own lives.
“A girl who cannot afford menstrual products, who has dropped out of school, or who depends on others for money, has fewer options, including options about sex. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) thrive in exactly those conditions,” AHF said.
AHF said the Girls Act model, championed “for girls, by girls,” seeks to prevent HIV and STI transmission, support girls living with HIV to remain on treatment, reduce unplanned pregnancies and keep girls in school.
“As of 2026, the programme counted more than 4,500 girls in active engagement,” it said.
According to AHF, Girls Act works across four connected areas: health, education and livelihoods, leadership, and results.
On health, the organisation said girls living with HIV were supported to remain on treatment, while those who were HIV-negative learned skills to prevent infection and make informed decisions.
It said the provision of free menstrual health products, extended to surrounding communities, addressed a basic need that often costs girls their dignity and school attendance.
The organisation added that the programme also teaches girls how to make and care for reusable pads, ensuring that access does not depend solely on supply.
On education and livelihoods, AHF said the programme recognised that not every girl was in school and did not abandon those who were out of school.
It said girls who wanted to return to school were supported to do so, while those who had dropped out were trained in life skills and helped to establish businesses.
On leadership, the organisation said Girls Act created opportunities for girls to aspire and lead through mentorship, advocacy and access to resources.
“Girls are turning up empowered, able to negotiate safe sex and exercise bodily autonomy.
“Negotiating safe sex is the difference between exposure and protection, and bodily autonomy is not a slogan but a public health asset.”
AHF called on federal and state governments to adopt and fund the Girls Act model, integrating it into national and state plans for HIV, education and youth development.
“This means dedicated budget lines for menstrual health, so no girl misses school for want of a sanitary pad; skills training and start-up support that reach out-of-school girls where they live; support for girls to return to, and stay in, school; leadership platforms for girls in schools and communities; and clear pathways linking young people to HIV testing, treatment and care,” the advocacy group said.
The group also called on stakeholders in the HIV response to recognise their critical roles in addressing the challenges facing girls and young women.
“Some will say the country has more pressing priorities. They should weigh the cost of inaction: new infections among young people, lifelong treatment, interrupted schooling and lost productivity.
“Prevention that also builds livelihoods and leadership is among the smartest investments a government can make.
“Our girls have shown what is possible when someone invests in them. They have earned the right to be treated as a key population in the national response, not as an afterthought.”
Poverty, school dropout fuel HIV risk among girls – Advocacy group warns government