By H Matthew Turry
MONROVIA – Liberia is reporting remarkable progress in its fight against HIV, achieving a major milestone of 95% viral suppression among those on treatment which reflects the nation’s steady movement toward epidemic control, according to the National AIDS Commission (NAC) while officially launching its series of activities leading to the observance of the World AIDS Day 2025, which Liberia, alongside the global community, observes annually on December,
The report from NAC stated that out of an estimated 36,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Liberia, 31,000 know their status, and a substantial 30,798 are currently receiving treatment. NAC asserts the fact that 95% of these individuals are virally suppressed—meaning the amount of HIV in their blood is extremely low or undetectable—is a testament to the success of the national testing and treatment programs.
“As we celebrate these milestones, let us be reminded that sustaining the gains we’ve made is only possible when we take full responsibility for our health,” Cecelia J. Nuta, Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission (NAC) stressed.
During a press conference held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the NAC head offices, Chairperson Cecelia J. Nuta announced the themes for the year’s commemoration, where the global theme is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response” and the national theme is “Mobilizing Domestic Support, Transforming the AIDS Response.“
Dr. Nuta provided a comprehensive overview of the national HIV response. Current UNAIDS Spectrum 2025 data estimates 36,000 PLHIV in Liberia, representing a 0.9% prevalence, a significant drop from the 2.1% recorded in the 2013 LDHS. Of this total, 21,000 are women.
The Chairperson acknowledged the recent challenge posed by a temporary freeze on foreign aid from the U.S. government, which disrupted essential HIV services. She stressed that this interruption served as a critical reminder of the vulnerability of aid-reliant systems and underscored the urgent need for increased domestic resource mobilization.
She expressed gratitude to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai who also doubles as Chairman of the NAC Board of Directors, for his leadership, and commended the Ministry of Health and dedicated health workers for ensuring continuity of care despite the funding challenges.
Emphasizing the national theme, Dr. Nuta called on the Government of Liberia to increase domestic funding through budgetary appropriation to the national HIV response. She affirmed that sustained national investment is essential to, among other things, safeguard existing progress, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of lifesaving services, strengthen Liberia’s path toward epidemic control and empower the response to deliver high-impact interventions.
She also called for stronger collaboration across government ministries, civil society, international partners, and UN agencies to build a resilient, long-term AIDS response.
The NAC announced a full schedule of activities culminating in the World AIDS Day observance from November 24 to December 1, 2025 with a nationwide awareness campaign utilizing diverse media across Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Bomi, Bong and Nimba counties, a youth dialogue program to address HIV misconceptions and equip young people for community advocacy, a community outreach awareness activities in public spaces like schools, markets and churches to increase demand for HIV services and on December 1, 2025 the commemoration will climax with a grand parade through central Monrovia, followed by a formal program at the Capital grounds where President Boakai is expected to deliver the keynote address.
Voluntary HIV testing, condom distribution, and educational materials will be available at the culminating event.