As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the 2008 World AIDS Day, the Lagos State government yesterday disclosed that there has been a consistent drop in HIV & AIDS prevalence rates in the state.

According the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the prevalence dropped from 6.7 per cent in 1999 to 3.3 per cent in 2005.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the Day in Lagos, with the theme; Leadership and Action and the slogan "Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise, Idris assured Lagosians living with HIV&AIDS that the state will continue to provide free treatments, support and care for people living with HIV & AIDS.

His words, "In keeping to the promise, we have 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."

Represented by the Director, Disease Control, Dr. Femi Taiwo, the Commissioner attributed the achievement to the collaborative efforts of the civil society, the private sector and the state government in HIV&AIDS prevention and management.

Idris, 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.

Stating that the state government has continued to blaze the trail in the fight against HIV&AIDS opined that apart from providing free drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections for people living with HIV&AIDS will also provides micro-credit schemes to alleviate various problems facing them and their social and economic development.

Addressing the current problem witnessed at various treatment site in Lagos, he explained that the long queues at various centres will soon be over as the state government is working towards employing more doctors, nurses in those centres.

"We are working towards closely to stop long queues in Lagos treatment sites. We are employing trained nurses and advisers to reduce the long queues. But we will like to assure Lagosians that treatments are still free and will remain free.

Number of patients are increasing compare to 10 years ago when people were not ready to come out. Most of our primary health centres are now giving out drugs and treatments to reduce to the barest minimum long queues in the state. All these are part of efforts to provide leadership and keeping the promise."

He further urged all Nigerians, cooperate organizations to join hands with the government in order to stem down the spread of HIV&AIDS in the state by showing love, care and compassion for people living with HIV&AIDS in the society.