Lagos Govt Reveals Over 160,000 Residents Currently Living With HIV

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that over 160,000 residents are currently living with HIV, placing the state among Nigeria’s highest-burden regions in the fight against the virus.

The revelation was made during a health briefing organised to mark the 2024 World AIDS Day, where officials highlighted ongoing challenges and renewed efforts to curb the spread of HIV across communities.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, the figure represents individuals who have already been identified through state-wide screening, while thousands more may still be undiagnosed. He stressed that early testing and consistent treatment remain the most effective ways to prevent further transmission.

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The commissioner noted that Lagos, due to its large population and diversity, naturally faces higher public health risks, but assured that the government has intensified awareness campaigns, free testing programmes, and access to antiretroviral drugs.

“Lagos currently has over 160,000 persons living with HIV. Our goal is to ensure every affected individual is on treatment and achieving viral suppression,” he said.

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He added that the state is working closely with national and international partners to reduce mother-to-child transmission and expand healthcare access to vulnerable groups, including youths and key populations.

Public health experts at the event urged residents to embrace regular testing, avoid risky behaviours, and stop the stigma associated with HIV, noting that many infected individuals now live long, healthy lives with proper medication.

The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) also reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the global 95-95-95 target: ensuring that 95% of people with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those on treatment attain viral suppression.

With the alarming figure now public, the state government says it will continue scaling up medical outreach programmes and community screening to identify more cases early and bring them into care.