Lagos flags off HIV impact survey to strengthen treatment outcomes

… Targets 11,354 residents crossed 6,150 households successful renewed propulsion to curb epidemic

By Henry Obetta

The Lagos State Government connected Wednesday launched the Nigeria State-Level Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey (AIS), a household-based inaugural designed to measurement HIV attraction sum and viral load suppression, arsenic portion of efforts to curb the epidemic and amended outcomes for radical surviving with HIV.

The survey, scheduled to tally from October to December 2025, volition screen 6,150 households crossed 20 section authorities areas, targeting 11,354 residents aged 15–64 years.

Speaking astatine the flag-off, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, described the AIS arsenic “a captious milestone successful the combat against HIV/AIDS,” noting that its findings would usher policies, fortify wellness systems, and adjacent attraction gaps.

“The survey has 3 objectives—measuring the fig of radical surviving with HIV identified, the proportionality connected life-saving antiretroviral therapy, and the percent who person achieved viral suppression. Viral suppression means the microorganism successful the humor is truthful debased it cannot beryllium transmitted to others,” helium explained.

Ogboye assured that each interviews, counselling, and accelerated tests would beryllium conducted confidentially, with results provided immediately. “Households were randomly selected, truthful this is not astir marking homes with HIV. It is simply a representative, technological workout to reassess advancement and amended assets allocation,” helium added.

Currently, Lagos has astir 135,225 radical connected HIV treatment, with 75 percent achieving viral suppression. Ogboye said the survey would update these figures and place gaps arsenic the authorities works toward the 2030 planetary extremity of ending HIV arsenic a nationalist wellness threat.

The Director of Disease Control, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, urged residents to invited the workout without fearfulness of stigma.

“Gone are the days erstwhile HIV was shrouded successful silence. People surviving with HIV merit dignity, respect, and entree to care. Our extremity is to fortify retention successful attraction and amended wellness outcomes,” she said.

International and nationalist partners pledged method and fiscal backing.

Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu, Deputy Director astatine U.S. CDC Nigeria, reaffirmed America’s enactment done PEPFAR funding, stressing, “This is not conscionable astir information but astir people—families and communities who volition payment from the outcomes.”

Representing NASCP, Dr. Chioma Ukanwa described the AIS arsenic a globally recognised instrumentality for epidemic control, noting it would assistance Lagos plan sustainable financing models and adjacent sum gaps.

Dr. Jay Osi-Samuels, Deputy CEO of APIN Public Health Initiatives, said the survey was “a homegrown exercise, by Nigerians, for Nigerians,” drafting lessons from a akin task successful Akwa Ibom.

Mr. Francis Agbo, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation astatine NACA, praised Lagos’ leadership, portion Dr. Williams Nwachukwu of the NCDC emphasised Lagos’ strategical importance: “Every household successful Nigeria has a typical successful Lagos. The occurrence of this survey volition signifier Nigeria’s travel toward HIV epidemic control.”

Closing the event, Lagos State HIV/AIDS and STI Programme Coordinator, Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and partners for their support, stressing that the workout was timely.

“The survey puts HIV involution astatine the doorstep of Lagosians. We impulse residents to cooperate with tract teams due to the fact that the occurrence of this workout depends connected assemblage acceptance,” helium said.

Officials stressed that information would straight lend to redeeming lives and achieving an HIV-free Lagos by 2030.

The station Lagos flags disconnected HIV interaction survey to fortify attraction outcomes appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.