The Rivers State Government has dismissed online reports alleging that Port Harcourt holds an HIV prevalence rate of 86%, describing the figures as fake, misleading, and not issued by any authorised health body.
The statement shared on Monday was issued and signed by Dr Adaeze Oreh, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health.
The State Ministry of Health said it became aware of a doctored graphic widely shared on social media, which purportedly claimed an unusually high HIV prevalence rate for the state.
It stated that the figures do not originate from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and do not reflect Nigeria’s official data.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, no state in the country has an HIV prevalence rate close to the figure being circulated.
The ministry noted that the language, appearance, and structure of the viral publication were inconsistent with official communication.
Available data from the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) conducted in 2018 places Rivers State’s HIV prevalence at 3.6%.
Meanwhile, routine testing between January and October 2025 showed a positivity yield of 2.87% across various sites in the state.
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The Ministry added that Rivers State currently operates 115 comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment centres across its 23 Local Government Areas, ensuring wide access to testing, treatment, and support services for residents.
Members of the public have been advised to disregard the false publication and rely only on verified sources such as the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and official ministry updates for accurate information on HIV data and trends.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to providing fact-based health information and supporting ongoing efforts to protect public health.
