10,606 Lagosians test HIV positive in one year

No fewer than 10, 606 people living in Lagos State tested positive to HIV out of the 58,792 clients tested by the State AIDS Control Agency in the last one year.

The dreadful revelation came to the fore during the ministerial press briefing of the Ministry of Health, held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris the agency was able to carry out HIV Counseling and Testing  (HCT) for a total of 58, 792 people out of which 18% of them tested positive.

He  also said during the sensitisation exercise for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV; a total of 28, 736 were counselled and tested out of which 340 tested positive to HIV.

Idris said; “The State Aids Control Agency was able to carry out HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) for a total of 58, 792 clients in the health facilities and 10, 606, representing 18% of these patients were positive.

“The agency conducted the fourth phase of sensitisation of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) on Prevention of Mother of Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), Universal Safety Precautions (USP) and Referral Linkage to PMTCT intervention.

“A total of 28, 736 pregnant women were counselled and tested during the outreaches. of these number, 340 were positive and referred for PMTCT services.”

Idris said a total of 2,957 HIV positive patients commenced antiretroviral treatment in the year under review, even as 1,066 HIV positive pregnant women and 745 HIV exposed babies were placed on ARV prophylaxis.

Speaking on infrastructural development in the health sector, the commissioner said the state essentially needed to enhance the efficiency of the health workforce as well as increase the scope and quality of service delivery in the health facilities.

He added that the infrastructure development involved the revamping of health and related structures through phased rehabilitation, equipping and upgrading of existing health facilities and the construction of new ones at all levels of care.