UPDATED: FG, LAGOS GOVT LAUNCH ‘ART IMPACT SURVEY’ TO BOOST HIV TREATMENT, VIRAL SUPPRESSION (PHOTOS)

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By: Sefiu Ajape

Survey Targets 11,397 residents across 20 LGAs in Lagos State
Data to guide HIV treatment coverage and viral suppression strategies
Stakeholders urge communities to embrace survey for reliable results

The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), has launched the Nigeria State-Level Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey (AIS) in Lagos.

Taking place at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, on Tuesday, the launch, which was marked with a town hall meeting brought together government officials, development partners, health experts, and community leaders under the theme: “Every Step Counts: Towards an HIV-Free Nigeria.”

It was gathered the survey will be conducted across 205 Enumeration Areas, covering 6,150 households and about 11,397 participants in all 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

The primary goal is to estimate HIV treatment coverage and viral load suppression among adults aged 15–64 years.

Delivering his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, highlighted the importance of the exercise in strengthening evidence-based planning for HIV response.

“This is an impact survey that will assess HIV prevalence, treatment coverage, and viral load suppression among adults in Lagos,” Ogboye said. “We count on the cooperation of communities, security agencies, and field workers to make it successful.”

He added, “Even though you are one individual in one community, the results you generate will shape national health planning. The success of this survey depends on every one of us.”

On his part, the Deputy Director, Epidemiology and Strategic Information at the U.S. CDC, Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu, described the initiative as people-centred.

“This is ultimately about people—the same people who will be engaged and who will benefit from the exercise,” Dalhatu said. “The outcomes will guide important health decisions on HIV and other diseases for Lagos and Nigeria.”

He reaffirmed CDC’s commitment to providing technical support, urging stakeholders to facilitate access for field workers and ensure community acceptance for credible results.

Representing the National Coordinator of NASCP, Dr. Adebola Bashorun, Deputy Director, Prevention, Dr. Chioma Ukanwa, emphasized the global relevance of the AIS.

“The survey will reach homes, communities and local governments, providing a true picture of the HIV situation,” Ukanwa noted. “We need reliable data to make informed decisions and improve healthcare outcomes.”

She appealed to community leaders to sensitize members, noting that cooperation with data collectors would determine the survey’s success.

Also speaking, Director, Research Monitoring and Evaluation at NACA, Mr. Francis Agbo, said the survey was vital in tracking progress toward HIV epidemic control.

“We have just concluded a similar exercise in Akwa Ibom, and Lagos is the next frontier,” Agbo stated. “The indicators will help us plan for the future.”

Deputy Director, Department of Surveillance at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Williams Nwachukwu, assured of NCDC’s technical support.

“We are here to ensure that data and samples are properly preserved, tested, and analyzed with feedback provided,” he said.

Project Director, APIN-PHIS3 Project, Dr. Dare Onimode, hailed the town hall as another milestone in Nigeria’s HIV response.

“This meeting provides the opportunity to seek your support for the process. The progress made so far is due to the invaluable backing of stakeholders,” Onimode remarked.

Representative of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr. Patric Akpan, pledged community support.

“It is essential to generate accurate data because reliable data from Lagos will inform sound policy decisions for Nigeria,” Akpan said.

Director of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, emphasized the need for community trust and participation.

“Gone are the days when HIV was shrouded in stigma. Today, people living with HIV deserve dignity, respect and universal access to healthcare,” Egunjobi said. “This survey is about evaluating progress and closing gaps.”

Presenting the Community Mobilization and Advocacy Strategy, Lagos State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, said grassroots participation was critical to the survey’s success.

“The mobilization process will be done in three phases—before, during and after data collection—using strategies such as poster placement, town hall meetings, door-to-door visits, and targeted outreach,” he explained.

Fisher added, “Our aim is to saturate the communities with AIS messages, foster understanding of the survey’s purpose, and ensure households cooperate with field workers.”

The Nigeria State-Level AIS is supported by PEPFAR, US CDC, NACA, NCDC, APIN Public Health Initiatives, LSACA and other partners, and is expected to provide the most reliable state-level data for HIV planning in Lagos.