Every minute a Nigerian man, woman, or child becomes infected with HIV. Soon Nigeria will be home to more people living with HIV than any other country in Africa. With 5 percent of its inhabitants already infected, Nigeria has reached the critical threshold that can catapult rates to nearly 40 percent of a country's population. The full magnitude of Nigeria's epidemic will be determined by its response now.

AIDS in Nigeria helps guide that response. Written by dozens of the country's leading HIV experts, the book explores the dynamics of the epidemic, analyzes prevention efforts, identifies crucial gaps, and formulates effective strategies for controlling the epidemic. Complementing the experts' words are the dramatic portraits of people whose lives have been forever transformed by AIDS. Their stories reveal the human costs of the epidemic--and the courage required to overcome it.

Olusoji Adeyi is the Coordinator of Public Health Programs World Bank, Washington, D.C.

Phyllis J. Kanki is Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, and Director, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Boston, Massachusetts.

Oluwole Odutolu is Senior Project Coordinator, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.

John Idoko is Professor of Medicine and Director of the APIN Laboratory at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.