HIV /AIDS: Over 46,000 test positive between 2020-2023 — Ogun Health Commissioner

On Tuesday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed that no fewer than 46,143 people have tested positive for HIV/AIDS in Ogun State.

She stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up to mark the 2023 World AIDS Day in Abeokuta.

The commissioner said about 21,083 out of 782,005 tested between 2020 and 2023 tested positive for HIV/AIDS.

She added that Ogun State has a prevalence rate of 1.6 per cent, while 12,654 HIV-positive people have no access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

Speaking on the theme of the 2023 World AIDS Day celebration, “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030,” Coker said the state has established 400 testing centres across the 20 local government areas of the state to increase the state’s testing capacity.

“Sadly, in Ogun State, 46,143 people are estimated to be living with HIV, while 33,489 of these have been identified and placed on sustained treatment.

“However, 12,654 are yet to be reached. These individuals are spread within the communities. Hence the need for our communities to now take the lead in our response to ending HIV.

“Our communities are pivotal to any successful response to HIV/AIDS because they are well-positioned to address both the social and cultural factors that contribute to HIV transmission.

“Our health facilities currently providing HIV services have increased from 198 in 2019 to 497 as of November 2023.

“About 300 communities’ testers have been engaged and spread across the communities within the 20 LGAs for HIV case finding, while our comprehensive treatment centres have been increased from 22 to 43,” Coker said.

The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (OGSACA), Dr Kehinde Fatungase, said the state had set up HIV test centres in some tertiary institutions across the state for testing and counselling of students.

Fatungase urged the people, especially the youths, to get tested and know their status so as to prevent the spread of the virus.

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