Lagos Takes HIV Screening Campaign To Offices, Trade Fair

The Lagos State Government has stepped up its HIV prevention campaign by taking free testing and counselling services directly to public servants, traders, exhibitors and visitors at the ongoing 2026 International Trade Fair.

The initiative, coordinated by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), is designed to make HIV screening easier to access, encourage early diagnosis and connect people who need further medical attention to appropriate treatment and care.

At the Public Service Week health screening exercise, the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, formally opened the free testing programme for government workers.

Agoro urged public servants to take advantage of the opportunity, stressing that preventive healthcare, including regular HIV screening, was important to maintaining a healthy and productive workforce.

He said workers should make regular health checks part of their personal responsibilities and use the opportunity to obtain confidential testing, professional counselling and reliable information about HIV prevention, transmission and treatment.

In a separate outreach, LSACA established a screening point at the Lagos Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square, to serve participants at the 2026 International Trade Fair.

The exercise began on Friday, November 6, and is scheduled to run until Sunday, November 15, giving traders, exhibitors, visitors and other participants access to free and confidential HIV testing within the trade fair venue.

Health workers deployed by the agency are also providing counselling, preventive health information and guidance on how people who require additional support can access treatment and other medical services.

The Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the state government remained committed to ensuring that HIV prevention, testing and treatment services were accessible, confidential and free from discrimination.

She emphasised that knowing one’s HIV status was an important step towards preventing new infections and improving health outcomes.

According to Animashaun, early diagnosis allows people who test positive to begin treatment promptly and receive the support required to maintain healthy and productive lives.

She encouraged residents not to wait until they suspected an infection before seeking a test, urging them to regard HIV screening as a normal part of routine healthcare.

The agency also said free testing, counselling and other essential HIV-related services remained available at designated health facilities across Lagos State.

The campaign comes against the background of Nigeria’s HIV burden. Data contained in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025 showed that Nigeria recorded 102,025 new HIV infections in 2025.

Lagos accounted for 10,430 of the reported new infections, the highest figure among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The state government is therefore seeking to expand access to screening and improve public awareness, particularly by taking services to places where large numbers of people gather.

LSACA said it would continue working with government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to widen access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.

Residents and trade fair participants have been encouraged to visit the agency’s screening point at the Lagos Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square, before the programme ends on November 15.

The initiative is also intended to reduce barriers associated with HIV testing by providing services in a confidential environment and making professional guidance available to members of the public.