Lagos On The Hunt For 60,000 HIV Victims

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) to find bout 60,000 people, who tested positive to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) but did not go back for treatment.

The Governor gave the charge on Wednesday at the inauguration of the State’s HIV Consortium Group held at Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel in Victoria Island. The event also featured the formal dissemination of dis-aggregated Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS).

Sanwo-Olu said the wanted HIV victims were diagnosed of the virus but they were not captured in the State’s HIV Response Database. He said the search for the individuals was to enable the State administer adequate antiretroviral treatment on them and prevent the spread of the virus.

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The Governor said one of the key healthcare goals of his administration is to reduce the number of new HIV infections and help victims manage the trauma in line with best practice. He disclosed that his Government, since inception, had sustained deployment of resources to fight Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) through LSACA, leveraging a multi-sectoral approach to achieve prevention and control.

He said: “Lagos State Government and its partners have worked and sacrificed resources to achieve the level of awareness that have significantly changed the behaviour of our people. This is evidenced by the reduction in the prevalence rate which currently stands at 1.4 per cent.

“Although, the current prevalence rate shows a reduction, it is still a source of concern when we consider the actual number of people within the bracket. There is therefore the need for us to step up our efforts to achieve a further reduction in the prevalence rate through aggressive public enlightenment campaign which must be taken to the nooks and crannies of the State.

“To further achieve progress in our efforts, I am charging LSACA and other stakeholders working in this space to help track 60,000 people who tested positive to HIV for immediate free treatment. We are not out to punish them. We want to ensure they have access to proper care.”

Sanwo-Olu said his Government had strengthened its commitment towards achieving the “90’90’90 Goals” of the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), pointing out that the Health and Environment pillar of his administration’s development agenda, known as Project T.H.E.M.E.S, would be implemented to prepare Lagos in achieving the goals by 2030.