Lagos State marks World AIDS Day 2025 with renewed focus on HIV control
By Adeola Ogunrinde –
Lagos officially marked World AIDS Day 2025 on Thursday, emphasizing a renewed focus on HIV prevention, testing, and treatment across the state. Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, made this declaration at a press briefing held in Alausa.
Dr. Animashaun, who inaugurated this year’s commemoration themed “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering support in strengthening the state’s healthcare systems and community structures, which have driven sustained progress in HIV control.
Dr. Animashaun highlighted that while significant progress has been achieved in 2025, community-level HIV interventions were temporarily disrupted by a Stop Work Order issued by the United States government earlier in the year. She noted that essential services—including community HIV testing, psychosocial support, counselling, and outreach—were interrupted in several hard-to-reach areas.
“These interruptions show that the effectiveness of any health response depends not only on healthcare facilities but also on the continuity and trust within community networks. Peer educators, support groups, youth advocates, faith-based organizations, and civil society groups remain the backbone of Lagos State’s HIV response,” Dr. Animashaun stated.
Providing an update on the current HIV situation, she disclosed that approximately 160,000 residents in Lagos are living with HIV, with 147,466 currently on antiretroviral treatment. 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 attributed to disruptions in community services.
Dr. Animashaun further reported that the ongoing Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, launched on November 18, is already yielding positive results. To date, 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. The campaign has seen strong participation among youths aged 20–35 and women in communities such as Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin.
She noted that the Lagos State Community Recovery Plan is now being fully implemented to restore momentum in the HIV response. The plan includes intensified outreach in high-priority areas, reactivation of support groups, expanded multi-month antiretroviral drug dispensing for stable clients, and active tracking of persons who have fallen out of care.
As part of the World AIDS Day 2025 activities, LSACA has scheduled statewide engagements, including a Jumat service on Friday, a novelty football match on Saturday, a church service on Sunday, and an awareness walk combined with an empowerment programme on Monday, December 1. A high-level World AIDS Day Symposium will take place on Tuesday, December 2, bringing together experts, partners, and community groups to strengthen collaboration.
