Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) was formed in 1998 to serve as a collective voice of PLHIV in the country.  Thus, NEPWHAN was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the programs and activities of support groups, associations, organizations and constituencies of PLHIV in Nigeria. 

These are groups of PLHIV that have decided to come together in order to give the HIV and AIDS epidemic a face and a voice that can inform program planning and implementation.  By the very nature of the membership of support groups, it is obvious that virtually all members actually come into the group to seek assistance in one form or the other.  By and large, majority of members are derived from the very low socio-economic class of the society.  It is assumed that PLHIV that can afford care tend to conceal their identities and treat their concern privately and in confidence.