Over 135,000 People Living with HIV in Lagos, Says Health Commissioner

Lagos State is facing a significant public health challenge, with more than 135,000 residents currently living with HIV, according to the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, Prof. Abayomi revealed that 135,224 individuals in the state have tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In response, the state government has ramped up its public health response, including community-focused interventions and awareness campaigns.

A key part of this effort involves collaboration with over 100 religious leaders, who have been appointed as HIV and AIDS ambassadors. The goal, Abayomi explained, is to combat stigma and drive grassroots awareness by leveraging trusted voices within communities.
“We are using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment,” he said.

Beyond HIV, the Lagos State Government has expanded its preventive healthcare initiatives:

• 154,228 women have received free cervical cancer screenings, with 8,613 treated using thermal ablation.
• Prostate cancer screening was provided for 300 men.
• Over 312,000 residents were screened for hypertension and diabetes.

The statistics paint a worrying picture: with a population of 30 million, an estimated 20% live with hypertension, and 70% of those affected are unaware of their condition. Diabetes prevalence stands at 6%, with half of those affected also unaware. Lagos also reports a 12% obesity rate.

Yet, these growing health concerns are being managed amid a critical shortage of medical personnel.
Lagos currently has 7,000 doctors, but the commissioner stated the state requires 33,000 more, along with an additional 33,000 nurses, to adequately meet demand.

To close this gap, the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health is projected to produce 2,500 healthcare professionals annually over the next five years—including doctors, nurses, and lab scientists.

Despite these efforts, public adoption of the state’s health insurance policy remains low. Only 4.17% of registered residents—about 1.25 million people—are enrolled. However, Abayomi expressed optimism that the newly passed mandatory health insurance law would lead to increased participation and improved funding.

Meanwhile, several major infrastructure projects are nearing completion, including:

• The New Massey Street Children’s Hospital
• Ojo General Hospital
• Mental Health Institute in Epe

These facilities are expected to be commissioned by April 2026, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the state’s healthcare delivery system.

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