The Lagos State GovHIVhihhiernment has reported that more than 135,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), underscoring the ongoing public health challenges in Nigeria’s most populous state.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, during a media briefing held to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to Abayomi, 135,224 people in the state are living with HIV. He said the government is intensifying awareness and intervention efforts by involving over 100 religious leaders as HIV and AIDS ambassadors. The aim is to reduce stigma and improve community outreach by using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment.
The state has also expanded its focus beyond HIV. It has offered free cervical cancer screening to 154,228 women and treated 8,613 using thermal ablation. Additionally, 300 men have received prostate cancer screenings, and 312,927 individuals have been screened for hypertension and diabetes.
Others aside HIV
In a population of 30 million, hypertension is estimated to affect 20%, and 70% of those individuals are unaware of their condition. Lagos also has a 12% obesity rate and a 6% diabetes prevalence, with half of those affected unaware of their status.
Despite these challenges, the state is dealing with a major shortage of medical personnel. Abayomi revealed that Lagos requires 33,000 more doctors and an equal number of nurses to meet its healthcare needs. Currently, the state has just 7,000 doctors.
To help close this gap, the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health is projected to produce 2,500 healthcare workers annually over the next five years, including doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists.
Only about 1.25 million residents, or 4.17% of the population, are currently enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme. However, the newly passed mandatory health insurance law is expected to significantly boost enrollment and funding.
Abayomi also highlighted the progress of major health infrastructure projects, including the New Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Ojo General Hospital, and the Mental Health Institute in Epe, which are scheduled for commissioning by April 2026.
