In a stark revelation, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed on Tuesday that an estimated 46,143 people are living with HIV in the state.
Out of this staggering number, 33,489 individuals have been identified and are currently on sustained treatment, while 12,654 remain uncontacted, residing across various communities in the state.
The commissioner shared this critical information during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the state capital, where she outlined the activities planned to commemorate the 2023 World AIDS Day.
Dr Coker highlighted that, among the 782,005 people tested between 2020 and 2023, 21,083 individuals tested positive for HIV/AIDS, reflecting a prevalence rate of 1.6 percent in the state.
Disturbingly, 12,654 of those who tested positive are yet to access Anti-Retroviral Therapy.
Dr Coker emphasized the state’s commitment to rapidly achieve HIV treatment saturation, aligning with the UNIADs 95-95-95 2030 goal of zero HIV infection.
The theme of the 2023 World AIDS Day celebration, “Communities: Leadership To End AIDS by 2030,” underscores the pivotal role communities play in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The commissioner revealed that Ogun State has established 400 testing centers across its 20 Local Government Areas to enhance testing capacity. Despite the progress in identifying and treating individuals, the uncontacted cases highlight the urgent need for community involvement in the response to HIV/AIDS.
Dr Coker stressed that communities are essential in addressing the social and cultural factors contributing to HIV transmission. She highlighted the expansion of health facilities providing HIV services from 198 in 2019 to 497 as of November 2023.
Additionally, comprehensive treatment centers have increased from 22 to 43, reflecting the state’s commitment to expanding its healthcare infrastructure.
The Executive Secretary of Ogun State Action Committee of HIV/AIDS, Dr Kehinde Fatungase, emphasized the establishment of HIV test centers in tertiary institutions across the state, targeting students for testing and counseling.
Dr Fatungase urged people, particularly the youth, to undergo testing, emphasizing the significance of knowing one’s status to prevent the spread of the virus.
As Ogun State grapples with the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS, the revelations underscore the critical need for intensified community-led initiatives, increased testing, and enhanced healthcare infrastructure to effectively combat the spread of the virus and provide timely treatment to those affected.
The commemoration of World AIDS Day serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing efforts required to address the multifaceted dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state.
