Over 120,000 individuals in Lagos State are currently undergoing life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), as reported by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA). ART involves the use of anti-HIV drugs to treat individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The therapy is targeted at children, adolescents, and other vulnerable populations. During a press briefing on Monday to mark a week of activities for the 2024 World AIDS Day, LSACA’s Chief Executive Officer, Folakemi Animashaun, highlighted the agency’s significant progress in combating HIV.
She emphasised that these advancements align with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim to ensure that 95% of people living with HIV are aware of their status, 95% of those aware are receiving treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.
A Breakdown of LSACA’s Progress
At the moment, LSACA has reached over one million people with HIV through prevention education and testing services, as detailed in a statement shared on the Lagos State government’s Facebook page.
Ms Animashaun shared that out of the 120,000 individuals living with HIV in Lagos State, 340 are children aged one to four, while 879 are between five and nine years old. 2,077 adolescents in the state are living with HIV, stressing the urgency of preventing mother-to-child transmission to reduce these numbers.
The agency has developed a guideline to address the connection between Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV, recognizing the significant intersection of these pressing public health concerns. The officer further noted that the agency has implemented various interventions, including mentorship programs for local action committees on AIDS and community-based organisations.
In celebration of World AIDS Day, LSACA organised a range of events, including HIV testing services from November 30 to December 3, a novelty football match on December 1, and a road walk for HIV prevention planned for December 3.
The program is centred around the theme, “The Right Path: Sustain the HIV Response and Stop HIV Among Children in Nigeria by 2030.” These activities serve not only as events but also as opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the battle against HIV.
Ms Animashaun emphasised that as the world marks this year’s World AIDS Day, LSACA reaffirms the critical need to maintain its innovative and inclusive approaches, ensuring that no one is excluded in the fight against HIV. World AIDS Day, observed every year on December 1, aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and advocate for the rights of those affected by the disease.
Key Facts About HIV/AIDS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) remains a significant global public health challenge, having caused an estimated 42.3 million deaths to date. It targets the CD4 cells of the immune system and destroys them, making the host susceptible to diseases and infections, including certain cancers like cervical cancer in women. The World Health Organization (WHO) now classifies Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in adults and adolescents as a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm³ or as WHO stage 3 or 4. For children under the age of five living with HIV, all are considered to have advanced HIV disease.
In Nigeria, approximately 1.9 million people are living with HIV. While there is no cure for the infection, access to effective measures such as HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, including management of opportunistic infections, has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition. This enables those affected to live long and healthy lives.
jxmow0
77nt81