The Lagos State Government has commenced activities ahead of World AIDS Day 2025, with a renewed commitment to strengthening HIV prevention, testing, and treatment across the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LSACA, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun gave this assurance during a press briefing in Lagos.
World AIDS Day is marked globally every Dec. 1 and Dr. Animashaun said that this year’s theme “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response” is a reflection of the strides of the state government in the past years to enhance healthcare systems and community structures while creating enabling consistent progress in HIV control efforts.
Highlighting the achievements recorded in 2025, Dr. Animashaun noted that community-level HIV interventions were significantly affected by the Stop Work Order issued by the United States government earlier in the year, which temporarily slowed essential services such as community HIV testing, psychosocial support, counselling, and outreach in several hard-to-reach areas.
She said “These interruptions demonstrated that the strength of any health response lies not just in hospitals but in the continuity and trust of community engagement. Community networks, peer educators, support groups, youth advocates, faith organisations, and civil society groups remain the backbone of Lagos State’s HIV response.”
Despite the setbacks, she commended community partners for their resilience, noting that many quickly reorganised, resumed outreach, and ensured that newly diagnosed individuals were connected to treatment.
HIV Patients
Updating the public on the current HIV situation, Dr. Animashaun disclosed that Lagos State has an estimated 160,000 residents living with HIV, with 147,466 persons currently on antiretroviral treatment.
According to her, “Between January and September 2025, a total of 222,415 HIV tests were conducted—representing only 28.9 percent of last year’s testing volume, a decline she attributed to disruptions in community services.
“However, the ongoing Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, launched on November 18, has begun yielding encouraging results. So far, 9,943 residents have been tested, including 3,402 males and 6,541 females, with an overall positivity rate of 2 percent. All individuals who tested positive have been linked to care.”
Dr. Animashaun said that the campaign is recording strong participation among youths aged 20–35 and women in communities such as Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin, while emphasising that the detection of new cases confirms that HIV remains a significant public health concern requiring sustained vigilance.
He noted that the Lagos State Community Recovery Plan is now being fully implemented to restore lost momentum.
These plans, according to her, include “intensified outreach in high-priority areas, reactivation of support groups, expanded multi-month drug dispensing for stable clients, and active tracking of persons who have fallen out of care.”
World AIDS Day
To celebrate this year’s WORLD AIDS DAY, LSACA has lined up a series of statewide engagements, including a Jumat service on Friday, a novelty football match on Saturday, a church service on Sunday, and an awareness walk with an empowerment programme on Monday, December 1.
A major focus of this year’s commemoration is the fight against stigma and discrimination.
She said, “LSACA has expanded its sensitisation efforts across markets, schools, faith institutions, and community clusters. No individual should ever feel excluded or dehumanised because of their HIV status.
“As we commemorate World AIDS Day 2025, let us strengthen community networks, support early testing, and commit to ensuring that every Lagos resident has access to care without fear or stigma.”