Over 60,000 Lagos residents living with HIV lack treatment

More than 60,000 people living with HIV in Lagos are yet to access antiretroviral treatment, according to figures released by the state government, which has identified gaps in testing, treatment and care for mothers and children.

The figures were presented at the dissemination of the 2025–2026 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey in Ikeja, where health officials called for increased testing and improved access to treatment.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Lajide, said an estimated 192,911 people were living with HIV in the state, but only 129,977 were receiving antiretroviral therapy, representing 65.7 per cent coverage.

She said the gap of more than 60,000 people required targeted interventions to identify those unaware of their HIV status and link them to treatment.

Findings from the survey showed that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 stood at 1.6 per cent among women and 0.8 per cent among men.

It also found that 58.3 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status, while 93.4 per cent of those aware of their status were receiving treatment. Of those on treatment, 88.9 per cent had achieved viral load suppression.

Lajide described the survey as an important tool for strengthening the state's HIV response, saying it would help assess progress since the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey and guide efforts towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

She also identified gaps in services for mothers and children, noting that prevention of mother-to-child transmission coverage increased from 45 per cent in 2018 to 57.6 per cent in 2025.

However, she said early infant diagnosis and paediatric treatment remained areas requiring urgent attention.

The permanent secretary reaffirmed the government's commitment to procuring HIV diagnostic kits and antiretroviral medicines, strengthening health systems and integrating HIV services into routine healthcare delivery.

She also called for increased domestic funding to ensure the sustainability of treatment and prevention programmes.

The National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, represented by Assistant Chief Scientific Officer Sabina Aiki, said the survey provided reliable state-level evidence for assessing the reach and impact of HIV services.

The survey, conducted between November 2025 and February 2026, covered 205 enumeration areas and 6,450 households. It examined HIV prevalence, testing, access to treatment and viral load suppression among eligible residents aged 15 to 64.

APIN Public Health Initiatives Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jay Osi Samuels, commended the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for supporting the exercise, while urging more regular assessments to provide timely information for health planning.

The US CDC Country Deputy Director, Dr Gbolahan Cole, said the US government supported the survey through the training of field personnel and the strengthening of laboratory capacity.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the findings would guide planning, budgeting and funding priorities as the state moves towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.

She stressed that the value of the survey would depend on translating its findings into practical interventions.

The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria also urged stakeholders to keep the needs and experiences of affected communities central to HIV programmes.

Its representative, Inolode Emmanuel, described antiretroviral treatment as representing “hope, dignity, survival and the opportunity to live a healthy life”.

The survey was supported by the United States Government and conducted through a partnership involving federal and state health agencies, APIN, civil society organisations and community representatives.