Lagos vows uninterrupted treatment for people living with HIV

The Lagos State Government on Thursday disclosed that it has intensified efforts to strengthen the security of Human Immunodeficiency Virus treatment commodities by procuring additional antiretroviral drugs.

The government said the move was to ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving medications for people living with HIV.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Aids Control Agency, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, said the ARV procurement was to ensure patients continue to receive their medications without interruption after funding cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration in January 2025.

She said the first consignment of ARV will arrive in Lagos in August 2026.

“As part of its long-term strategy to strengthen HIV sustainability and health commodity security, the Lagos State Government has taken a bold and unprecedented step by directly procuring antiretroviral (ARV) to support uninterrupted HIV treatment services across the State.

“We are pleased to inform Lagosians that the first consignment of these State-procured ARV medicines is expected to arrive in Lagos by the end of August 2026. This marks a historic milestone, making Lagos State the first sub-national government in Nigeria to independently procure antiretroviral medicines for people living with HIV,” she said.

According to him, the move demonstrates the govt’s commitment to safeguarding the health of Lagos residents, reducing dependence on external donor support, and ensuring uninterrupted access to life-saving HIV treatment.

She explained that Lagos had already commenced implementation of a comprehensive HIV Response Acceleration Plan for the period July to September 2026.

“The state is currently implementing HIV prevention interventions, that is, HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) intervention, that is, oral and long-acting injectable PrEP (two-monthly injectable),” Animashaun said.

Furthermore, she urged residents across the state not to panic over recent data on HIV, stressing that available program data from Lagos shows sustained progress in HIV control across the state.

She maintained that based on its data from expanded testing, the state currently records a declining positivity rate of the infection.

Animashaun said out of the 504,800 HIV tests conducted in 2025, 11,940 tests came back positive for HIV, resulting in a positivity rate of 2.4%.

“In 2025, Lagos State conducted 504,800 HIV tests, through which 11,940 HIV-positive cases were identified, representing a positivity yield of 2.4%. In the first quarter of 2026, the State conducted 179,229 HIV tests, identifying 3,390 HIV-positive cases, while the positivity yield further declined to 1.9%,” she said.

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According to her, the declining positivity rate, despite expanded testing, is a significant epidemiological indicator that reflects improving epidemic control.

She added, “As of 2025, 147,904 persons were receiving antiretroviral therapy across Lagos State, with 97% achieving viral suppression. This represents a major public health milestone and demonstrates the effectiveness of the State’s HIV treatment programme.”

Similarly, Animashaun said Lagos continues to record significant progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

“The Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate has declined remarkably from 5.1% in 2020 to 1.5% in 2025, reflecting sustained improvements in maternal and child HIV services.

“The evidence is clear. While recent media reports have generated understandable public concern, the available programme data do not support panic. Rather, they underscore the strength of Lagos’ surveillance system, expanded access to HIV services, and sustained progress towards epidemic control,” she said.

The LSACA boss said the HIV figure reported in the media requires important technical interpretation, adding that there was a need for clarification of what the figures actually represent.

“It does not literally translate to the state recording 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025. The number that has been widely circulated refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, not necessarily new HIV infections that occurred within the year. These are two very different public health indicators,” she said.

However, this position does not align with data from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025, which shows that Lagos recorded the highest number of new cases, with 10,430 reported during the period under review.

Speaking further, the LSACA boss explained that a newly diagnosed HIV-positive case simply means an individual was confirmed HIV-positive during the reporting period.

According to her, these include persons who may have acquired HIV several years earlier but were only recently tested.

“The figure may also include people who travelled to Lagos for testing or treatment, referrals from other states, and individuals identified because of the state’s expanded access to HIV testing services,” Animashaun said.

She clarified that new HIV infections refer to individuals who acquired HIV within a defined period, and are estimated using established epidemiological surveillance methods and scientific modelling.

“These are two different indicators and should not be interpreted interchangeably. This distinction is critical because inaccurate interpretation of public health data can generate unnecessary fear, increase stigma and discrimination, discourage HIV testing, and ultimately undermine public health interventions,” she said.

On the 10,430 figures, Animashaun said Lagos was already engaging relevant stakeholders to understand the methodology, indicator definitions, and reporting assumptions underlying the published figures.

“As Nigeria’s most populous state, commercial centre, and one of the country’s largest healthcare referral hubs, Lagos naturally records some of the highest volumes of HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment, and patient referrals. Stronger surveillance systems and wider access to healthcare services invariably result in higher case detection and should not be misconstrued as evidence of worsening epidemic control,” she said

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Furthermore, she urged residents across the state not to panic.

“To every resident of Lagos, our message is simple. There is no cause for panic. Know your HIV status, access available prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, rely only on verified public health information, and reject every form of stigma and discrimination,” she said.

On his part, the Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said the media briefing was to ensure Lagosians understand the situation at hand.

“Some of the information currently in circulation, and even some of the discussions taking place across broadcast media platforms, may not accurately reflect the situation.

“It is important that the correct narrative is communicated so that people do not get the impression that Lagos State is not taking decisive action against HIV/AIDS. As you all know, the Government of Lagos State places a high premium on the health and well-being of its residents,” he said.

Also speaking, the Field Coordinator Officer, United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Temitope Fadiya, said that over the years, Lagos has remained committed to strengthening its HIV response.