Only 58.3 per cent of adults living with HIV in Lagos know their status, while women have twice the HIV prevalence recorded among men, according to findings from the state’s 2025–2026 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey.
The survey found HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 was 1.6 per cent among women, compared with 0.8 per cent among men, highlighting differences in the distribution of the disease across the population.
The findings were presented at the dissemination of the Lagos State summary sheet of the ART Impact Survey, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday.
The diagnosis gap means a significant proportion of people living with HIV may not know their status and could therefore miss opportunities for early treatment and care.
Presenting the findings, Ubong Okon, APIN/PHIS3 survey lead, said the survey examined HIV prevalence, testing, access to treatment and viral load suppression. The exercise was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026.
The survey covered 205 enumeration areas and 6,450 households, while 93.5 per cent of the 6,748 eligible households completed household interviews.
Its conditional treatment cascade showed that 58.3 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status, 93.4 per cent of those in the relevant diagnosed group were receiving treatment, and 88.9 per cent of those on treatment had achieved viral load suppression.
The findings suggest that identifying people who are living with HIV remains a major challenge, even as treatment and viral suppression indicators show progress among those reached by services.
Dayo Lajide, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the survey would help the government assess progress since the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey and guide efforts towards meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
The targets seek to ensure that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95 per cent of people receiving treatment achieve viral suppression.
Lajide also cited figures from the 2025 HIV Health Sector Report, which estimated that 197,911 people were living with HIV in Lagos, while 129,977 were receiving antiretroviral therapy. This represented treatment coverage of 65.7 per cent, leaving more than 60,000 people outside treatment coverage.
She said the state had recorded improvements in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services, with coverage increasing from 45 per cent in 2018 to 57.6 per cent in 2025.
However, early infant diagnosis declined from 7.7 per cent in 2021 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, while paediatric treatment coverage remained at about 44.5 per cent.
Lajide called for targeted interventions to improve HIV testing, treatment linkage and retention in care, as well as early diagnosis and treatment for children exposed to the virus.
She said the state government would continue to support HIV services through the procurement of rapid diagnostic kits and antiretroviral medicines, alongside efforts to strengthen the health system and integrate HIV services into routine healthcare.
The survey also comes amid concerns about the sustainability of HIV programmes as global healthcare funding changes. Lajide said domestic resource mobilisation and sustainable financing would be important in maintaining services and addressing gaps.
Folakemi Animashaun, chief executive officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, said the findings would support planning, budgeting and accountability as the state works towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.
She said the value of the survey would depend on translating its findings into practical interventions.
The survey was supported by the United States Government and conducted through collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, the NCDC, Lagos State Government and APIN Public Health Initiatives, among other partners.
Stakeholders at the dissemination called for increased testing, stronger community engagement and sustained funding to reach people living with HIV who remain undiagnosed or outside treatment.
Chioma Onuh is a journalist, social media manager and SEO specialist with over five years of experience in digital storytelling and audience engagement. She writes clear, human-centred stories and profiles, and currently manages digital content and strategy at BusinessDay.
