By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), and with the support of international partners including the APIN-PHIS3 Project, PEPFAR, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and other stakeholders, has launched the Nigeria State-Level Antiretroviral Therapy Impact Survey (AIS) in Lagos.
Themed “Every Step Counts: Towards an HIV-Free Nigeria,” the survey seeks to provide critical data to guide evidence-based planning and strengthen Nigeria’s HIV response.
Speaking at the launch in Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, stressed the importance of the exercise, noting that even small datasets generated at community level have the power to shape national health strategies. He urged field workers to carry out their duties with diligence and integrity.
Deputy Director of Epidemiology and Strategic Information at the U.S. CDC, Dr Ibrahim Dalhatu, described the AIS as a people-centred initiative, despite its scientific nature. He reaffirmed the CDC’s commitment to providing technical support, while calling on stakeholders to ensure that field workers are granted access and community acceptance to guarantee credible results.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NASCP, Dr Adebola Bashorun, represented by NASCP Deputy Director of Prevention, Dr Chioma Ukanwa, highlighted the AIS as a globally recognised tool essential for epidemic control.
Similarly, the Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at NACA, Mr Francis Agbo, said the survey would help track progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control in Lagos.
On her part, the Director of Disease Control at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Victoria Egunjobi, underscored the need for community trust and active participation to ensure the reliability of the findings.
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