Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Lagos State has raised fresh concerns over a significant drop in HIV testing across the state, even as new data shows that about 160,000 residents are currently living with HIV. The warning was issued by the CEO of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LASCA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, during a press briefing to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day themed “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”
According to Dr. Animashaun, the state’s HIV response has been heavily affected by recent operational disruptions linked to the US government’s Stop Work Order, which stalled community outreach programs. These interruptions, she said, hit adolescents, key populations, and residents in hard-to-reach areas the hardest—groups that rely heavily on field-based engagements.
She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to HIV control, saying “His unwavering support strengthens both our health systems and community networks, ensuring that every effort to prevent, detect, and treat HIV is empowered and sustained.”
However, the data presented paints a worrying picture. From January to September 2025, only 222,415 HIV tests were conducted—just 28.9% of the previous year’s total. While 147,466 residents living with HIV are currently on treatment, the reduction in testing raises fears that many cases may be going undetected.
The Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, launched on November 18, 2025, has so far reached 9,943 residents, recording a 2.0% positivity rate. Those who tested positive have been linked to treatment, a result Dr. Animashaun described as proof that “this campaign highlights the power of sustained, community-driven outreach.”
She stressed that the true strength of any successful HIV response lies beyond hospital walls, noting, “The strength of any health response is measured not only by what happens within clinics but also by the reach, trust, and continuity of community engagement.”
Activities lined up for World AIDS Day include religious engagements, a novelty football match, awareness walks, and a symposium aimed at promoting education, early detection, and community resilience.
Dr. Animashaun ended with a call for collective responsibility, saying the situation “underscores the importance of collaboration across all sectors and faith communities in overcoming disruptions and sustaining the HIV response in Lagos State.”
The real issue, she emphasized, is not just the number of people living with HIV—but the growing gap in testing, which threatens to reverse years of progress if not urgently addressed.
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