Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening HIV prevention, testing and treatment, as findings from the 2025–2026 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey provide fresh evidence to guide interventions and improve health outcomes across the state.

The survey found that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 was 1.6 per cent among women and 0.8 per cent among men. It also showed 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 and 88.9 per cent of those on treatment had achieved viral load suppression.

The findings were presented at the dissemination of the Lagos State Summary Sheet of the ART Impact Survey held on Wednesday at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Lajide, described the survey as an important milestone in strengthening the state’s HIV response through credible evidence, informed decision-making and strategic programme implementation. She said the findings would help assess progress since the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey and support efforts towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

Lajide said the 2025 HIV Health Sector Report estimated that 192,911 people were living with HIV in Lagos, with 129,977 receiving antiretroviral therapy, representing 65.7 per cent treatment coverage and leaving a gap of more than 60,000 people. She also highlighted gaps in services for mothers and children, noting that prevention of mother-to-child transmission coverage rose from 45 per cent in 2018 to 57.6 per cent in 2025, while early infant diagnosis and paediatric treatment coverage remained areas requiring attention.

She called for targeted interventions to strengthen case identification, treatment linkage, retention in care, early infant diagnosis and paediatric treatment. Lajide reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining HIV services through the procurement of rapid diagnostic kits and antiretroviral medicines, strengthening health systems and integrating HIV services into routine healthcare delivery. She also stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation and sustainable financing.

The National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), represented by Assistant Chief Scientific Officer Sabina Aiki, said the survey provided reliable state-level evidence to assess the reach and impact of HIV treatment services and guide decisions. She commended Lagos State’s leadership and urged stakeholders to sustain investments and translate the findings into programme improvements.

APIN Public Health Initiatives Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jay Osi Samuels, described the survey as a major achievement, appreciating the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) for its support and confidence in APIN. He commended Lagos State and other stakeholders for their cooperation and called for more regular assessments to ensure timely access to strategic information.

US CDC Country Deputy Director, Dr Gbolahan Cole, said the United States Government had invested significantly in the survey, including training field personnel and strengthening laboratory capacity. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with Lagos State and partners to address the identified gaps and provide technical assistance.

In his overview of the survey, APIN/PHIS3 Technical Director, Dr Olaposi Olatoregun, said the assessment adopted the Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment approach and involved extensive stakeholder coordination, fieldwork and laboratory processes. He said the exercise covered 205 enumeration areas and 6,450 households, with eligible individuals aged 15 to 64, and was supported by monitoring and quality assurance measures.

Presenting the survey summary sheet, APIN/PHIS3 Survey Lead, Dr Ubong Okon, said the survey was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 and examined HIV prevalence, testing, treatment access and viral load suppression. He disclosed that 93.5 per cent of the 6,748 eligible households completed household interviews, while the findings highlighted the need to intensify testing and improve treatment outcomes.

Health Assistant Coordinator in the Office of the US Embassy’s Department of State, Abuja, Omoshalewa Oyelaran, said the survey provided Lagos with a clear and independent picture of the HIV epidemic, showing who was living with HIV, receiving treatment and achieving viral suppression. She identified awareness of HIV status as a major priority, stressing that people who do not know their status cannot be linked to treatment.

Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the findings were timely as the state moves towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response. She said the survey would guide planning, budgeting, accountability and funding priorities, adding that its value would depend on translating the findings into implementation.

The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), represented by Strategy Manager Inolode Emmanuel, said the dissemination was an opportunity to reflect on progress, gaps and the lives affected by HIV interventions. He described ART as representing hope, dignity, survival and the opportunity to live a healthy life, while urging stakeholders to keep community voices central to the response.

In his vote of thanks, Lagos State Ministry of Health Director of Disease Control, Dr Oladipupo Fisher, commended the state’s pioneering role in population-based HIV surveys and acknowledged the contributions of government institutions, development partners, technical experts, security agencies and field teams. He urged stakeholders to use the findings to strengthen interventions, reach people not yet enrolled in care and improve viral suppression.

The survey was supported by the United States Government and conducted through collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NASCP, NACA, NCDC, Lagos State Government, APIN/PHIS3, civil society organisations and community representatives. Stakeholders called for sustained collaboration and evidence-led action to improve HIV outcomes and advance the goal of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

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