The Lagos State Government has commenced the procurement of antiretroviral medicines with its own resources as part of efforts to sustain HIV treatment and reduce dependence on external donor funding.
The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) disclosed the development while outlining progress in the state’s HIV response under its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Folakemi Animashaun.
According to the agency, 147,904 people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral treatment across Lagos State as of 2025. The government said direct procurement of the medicines was intended to support continuity of treatment and strengthen the state’s capacity to finance essential HIV services.
The move forms part of preparations for a proposed 10-year HIV Sustainability and Transition Roadmap covering 2027 to 2037. The roadmap is expected to strengthen domestic financing and provide a framework for maintaining treatment and prevention services over the long term.
LSACA also reported improvements in indicators relating to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. It said the Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate declined from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025.
The agency further reported that HIV positivity declined from 2.4 per cent to 1.9 per cent despite an expansion in testing services. These figures refer to the proportion of tests returning positive results, rather than the total number of people living with HIV.
Other measures introduced by the state include the Lagos State Strategic Plan on HIV 2025–2027 and the HIV Action Response Plan 2025–2027, designed to guide prevention, testing, treatment and care.
LSACA has also emphasised the need for stronger coordination with local governments, development partners, healthcare providers and community organisations to improve access to services and ensure that people diagnosed with HIV are linked to and retained in treatment.
The state-funded procurement initiative is intended to reduce vulnerability to changes in external funding and improve the security of essential medical supplies.
The agency’s reported treatment figures and programme indicators highlight the scale of the state’s HIV response, while the proposed roadmap is expected to provide a longer-term framework for sustaining those services.
Deborah Adeyefa
