2 December 2008
Lagos — Lagos State government has said that there has been a consistent drop in the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the state from 6.7 per cent in 1999 to 3.3 per cent, an achievement attributed to the collaborative efforts of the civil society, the private sector and the state government in HID/AIDS prevention and management.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who stated this on the occasion of this year's World AIDS Day celebration in Lagos, explained that this achievement would not have been possible but for the provision of free HIV counseling and testing services in all General Hospitals in the state as well as the Primary Health Centers coupled with the setting up of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) treatment sites that also provide free services and drugs to HIV/AIDS patients.
Idris, who was represented by the Director, Disease Control, Dr (Mrs.) Femi Taiwo, opined that the state government has continued to blaze the trail in the fight against HIV/AIDS hence the setting up of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency who apart from providing free drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections for people living with HIV/AIDS also provides micro-credit schemes to alleviate various problems facing them and their social and economic development.
"Significantly, the Agency with its focused leadership and coordination has been able to sensitize the Lagos community effectively.
According to the 2005 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey, more than 97 per cent of Lagosians have heard of HIV and AIDS and 94 per cent of them have good knowledge of its prevention," he said
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