Lagos Launches New HIV Plan, Moves To Close Gaps In Testing, Treatment
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State Government has unveiled its 2025 to 2027 HIV Strategic Plan as part of efforts to strengthen prevention, testing, treatment and long term care for people living with HIV across the state.
The plan, launched during a dissemination meeting, is expected to provide a framework for coordinating HIV programmes, resources and partnerships while setting measurable targets for the state’s HIV response through 2027.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the state had made progress in HIV prevention, testing, treatment and community based interventions but still faced important gaps that required sustained attention.
Animashaun identified access to underserved populations, expansion of HIV prevention and testing services, timely linkage to treatment and retention of people living with HIV in care as key areas requiring further intervention.
She added that achieving viral suppression would remain an important priority under the new strategic plan.
According to her, the dissemination meeting provided stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the state’s progress, identify areas where performance could be improved and refocus efforts towards meeting the plan’s targets before 2027.
“The Plan provides a clear framework for coordinating HIV programmes, resources and partnerships towards achieving measurable results by 2027,” Animashaun said.
She assured stakeholders that LSACA would continue to coordinate the state’s HIV response, mobilise resources and monitor implementation while ensuring that decisions are guided by evidence.
Animashaun also stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and healthcare providers.
She said stronger partnerships and adequate resources would be critical to building a more effective and sustainable HIV response across Lagos.
The LSACA chief acknowledged the contributions of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, relevant government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and healthcare workers to the state’s HIV programmes.
The 2025 to 2027 strategic plan is expected to guide HIV interventions across Lagos State, with particular emphasis on expanding access to prevention and testing, improving treatment linkage and retention, and strengthening long term care for people living with HIV.
The state government is expected to use the plan as a roadmap for addressing existing gaps and improving the overall effectiveness of its HIV response ahead of 2027.
