World AIDS Day: Lagos renews commitment to HIV prevention, treatment

Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, has disclosed that Lagos State currently has an estimated 160,000 people living with HIV, with 147,466 already on antiretroviral therapy.

According to her, between January and September 2025, the state recorded 222,415 HIV tests, representing 28.9 percent of the previous year’s testing volume a decline she attributed to earlier disruptions in community-level services.

Despite the setbacks, Dr. Animashaun reported encouraging progress from the Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, launched on November 18. So far, 9,943 residents have been tested 3,402 males and 6,541 females with a 2 percent positivity rate. All individuals who tested positive have been promptly linked to treatment.

She reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening HIV prevention, testing, and treatment across the state.

Announcing the official commencement of this year’s World AIDS Day commemoration, themed “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response”, Dr. Animashaun commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for providing consistent leadership and support for the state’s HIV control efforts. She noted that the administration’s investments in health and community systems continue to drive steady progress.

Reviewing the year’s performance, she explained that community HIV services were significantly affected by the Stop Work Order issued by the United States government earlier in 2025. The directive disrupted key interventions including community HIV testing, counselling, psychosocial support, and outreach activities, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

“These interruptions showed that the strength of any health response lies not only in hospitals but in sustained community engagement,” she said, highlighting the crucial roles of peer educators, support groups, youth advocates, faith-based organisations, and civil society actors.

She praised community-based partners for their resilience, noting that many quickly reorganised and resumed outreach activities, ensuring that newly diagnosed individuals were immediately linked to treatment.

Strong participation in the ongoing testing campaign has been recorded among young adults aged 20–35 and women in communities such as Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin. Dr. Animashaun stressed that the continued detection of new HIV cases underscores the infection’s ongoing public health significance and the need for sustained vigilance.

To restore momentum, she revealed that the state has fully activated the Lagos State Community Recovery Plan, which includes intensified outreach in high-priority locations, reactivation of support groups, expanded multi-month drug refills for stable clients, and active tracking of individuals who have dropped out of care.