Niger is a landlocked country with approximately 13 million inhabitants (177th and last country according to the Human Development Index).
The last survey of HIV prevalence (2002) reported an estimated 0.87% of the population between 15-49 years of age (UNAIDS estimation 2006: 1.1%). Unfortunately, this relatively low rate must be revised with the increase in urban zones and the mining region (uranium, coal, etc. principally in the Agadez-Arlit region) where the rate is superior to 2%. The population of seropositive persons is estimated at 79,000 including 16,000 who are in urgent need of ARV therapy.
Access to ARV therapy for Aids patients was late in arriving. The CTA (Outpatient Treatment Centre) was opened by the French Red Cross in January 2004 and became one of the pioneer structures in this domain and remains a reference centre for the entire country. Since then, other treatment centres have opened in Niamey but it has only been during this past year that the principal regional centres have equipped themselves with ARV prescription and therapy centres. There are currently 12 prescription centres in operation in the country and approximately 3,000 patients are receiving ARV therapy.
Recent changes have been made in Nigerien institutions in terms of the fight against HIV/Aids (restructuration of the CISLS and the ULSS) and a new National Strategic Framework in the fight against Aids was adopted for the 2008-2012 period.
The new action plan emphasises voluntary detection, the reinforcement of comprehensive treatment and care (through mobilisation and partnership with the public sector, civil society and the private sector) and decentralisation.
Moreover, the awarding of a subsidy from Round 7 of the Global Fund at the end of 2007 created a real opportunity for the country to implement its policy to fight the epidemic. The programme began in July 2008.