The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, development partners, and other stakeholders, has launched the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey to strengthen the fight against HIV.
The survey will cover 205 areas, 6,150 households, and about 11,400 participants across the 20 local governments in Lagos. It aims to measure HIV treatment coverage and the level of viral load suppression among adults aged 15–64.
The launch took place at a town hall meeting with government officials, health experts, partners, and community leaders under the theme: “Every Step Counts: Towards an HIV-Free Nigeria.”
Declaring the meeting open, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said the survey would provide important data for evidence-based HIV planning.
“This impact survey will assess HIV prevalence, treatment coverage, and viral load suppression in Lagos. We need full cooperation from communities, security agencies, and field workers to make it successful,” Ogboye stated.
He reminded field workers of the importance of their role, saying: “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 everyone.”
Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu, Deputy Director of Epidemiology at the U.S. CDC, described the exercise as people-focused, despite its scientific basis. He said the outcomes will help guide important health decisions on HIV and other diseases for both Lagos and Nigeria.
He assured of CDC’s technical support and stressed the need for communities to grant access to field workers and accept the process for credible results.
The National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) Coordinator, Dr. Adebola Bashorun, represented by Dr. Chioma Ukanwa, said the survey is a globally recognized tool for controlling HIV. He added that it would reach homes and communities to provide a true picture of the situation in Lagos.
He urged community leaders to sensitize their people, stressing that the cooperation of households will determine the success of the exercise.
Director of Research at NACA, Francis Agbo, said the survey is a chance to track progress towards controlling the HIV epidemic in Lagos. “We just finished a similar survey in Akwa Ibom, and now Lagos is the next,” he noted.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), represented by Dr. Williams Nwachukwu, also promised technical support to ensure data is properly collected, tested, and analyzed.
Dr. Dare Onimode, Project Director of APIN-PHIS3, said the town hall marked another milestone in Nigeria’s HIV fight, made possible by the backing of stakeholders.
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, represented by Mr. Patric Akpan, pledged community support for the survey, stressing that reliable data from Lagos will shape strong policy decisions for the nation.
Director of Disease Control in Lagos State, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, emphasized community trust, saying stigma must be left behind. “This survey is about checking progress and closing gaps, while respecting the dignity of people living with HIV,” she said.
Lagos State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, explained that the success of the survey depends on grassroots mobilization. He said 30 survey teams, supported by mobilisers, will work across 205 areas, visiting 6,150 households with about 11,000 participants.
He outlined three mobilization phases—before, during, and after data collection—using posters, town halls, door-to-door visits, and household outreach. Mobilisers will also answer questions, schedule visits, and fight misconceptions about HIV testing.
Fisher added that brochures would be distributed, group talks held, and communities engaged to ensure households cooperate with survey teams.
The Nigeria State-Level ART Impact Survey is supported by PEPFAR, U.S. CDC, NACA, NCDC, APIN Public Health Initiatives, LSACA, and other partners. It is expected to provide the most reliable data for HIV planning in Lagos State.
