The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and key international partners, has launched the Nigeria State-Level Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey (AIS) to strengthen evidence-based HIV response and epidemic control in the state.
The survey, inaugurated at a town hall meeting held on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, will cover 205 Enumeration Areas, 6,150 households, and an estimated 11,397 participants across Lagos’ 20 Local Government Areas.
It aims to assess HIV prevalence, treatment coverage, and viral load suppression among adults aged 15–64 years.
Speaking at the event themed “Every Step Counts: Towards an HIV-Free Nigeria,” Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said the survey would provide reliable data to guide treatment and policy decisions.
“This is an impact survey that will assess HIV prevalence, treatment coverage, and viral load suppression among adults in Lagos,” Ogboye stated. “We count on the cooperation of communities, security agencies, and field workers to make it successful.”
Representing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Deputy Director, Epidemiology and Strategic Information, Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu, described the exercise as people-centred despite its scientific basis.
“The outcomes will guide important health decisions on HIV and other diseases for Lagos and Nigeria,” Dalhatu said, reaffirming CDC’s commitment to technical support and urging communities to welcome field workers.
Deputy Director, Prevention at the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr. Chioma Ukanwa, who represented the National Coordinator, stressed that the AIS was vital to achieving epidemic control.
“The survey will reach homes, communities and local governments, providing a true picture of the HIV situation,” she explained. “We need reliable data to improve healthcare outcomes.”
Other partners also underscored the significance of the initiative. Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at NACA, Mr. Francis Agbo, said the survey would help track progress towards epidemic control, while NCDC Deputy Director, Surveillance, Dr. Williams Nwachukwu, assured of quality data handling.
Project Director of the APIN-PHIS3 Project, Dr. Dare Onimode, described the survey as a milestone in Nigeria’s HIV response, commending the support of stakeholders.
Similarly, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) pledged community support, with its representative, Mr. Patric Akpan, emphasizing the need for accurate data to inform national policy.
Director of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, highlighted the role of community trust and participation saying, “Gone are the days when HIV was shrouded in stigma. Today, people living with HIV deserve dignity, respect and universal access to healthcare.”
Presenting the survey’s mobilization strategy, Lagos State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, said the exercise would deploy 30 survey teams supported by community mobilizers to create awareness, build trust, and encourage participation.
“Our aim is to saturate communities with AIS messages and ensure households cooperate with field workers,” Fisher said, outlining sensitization efforts such as town hall meetings, poster placement, door-to-door visits, and targeted outreach.
