Lagos Grapples with HIV Crisis as 135,000 Residents Affected
LAGOS, Nigeria — Over 135,000 residents of Lagos State are living with HIV, signaling a persistent public health crisis in Nigeria’s most populous state, according to Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi. Announced on April 23, 2025, during a briefing marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second-term anniversary, the figure underscores challenges like stigma, low testing rates, and a severe shortage of medical personnel. The state has intensified efforts, engaging over 100 religious leaders to combat stigma and boost awareness, but concerns mount as Nigeria faces economic strain and global HIV funding cuts. The issue, trending on X with #HIVLagos (110,000 posts), has sparked urgent calls for action as of April 24, 2025.
Intensified Efforts Amid High Prevalence
Prof. Abayomi revealed that 135,224 Lagosians are living with HIV, a figure aligning with Nigeria’s 1.4% adult prevalence and Lagos’s estimated 17–21 million population, per Channels Television and NACA. Speaking at Alausa, Ikeja, he highlighted state initiatives, including appointing over 100 religious leaders as HIV/AIDS ambassadors to reduce stigma and promote testing and treatment. “We are using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment in our communities,” Abayomi said, per Punch Newspapers.
A 2022 survey by Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation identified Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe as having the highest HIV prevalence, with Ojo, Apapa, and Ikorodu also affected, per Healthwise. Prevalence among adults aged 15–64 is 1.3%, with women at 1.9% compared to men at 0.8%, and viral suppression at 42.3%, per Healthwise. The state’s 2025 Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey, targeting 8,000 individuals, aims to assess treatment effectiveness, per Premium Times.
Systemic Challenges
Lagos faces formidable barriers. A shortage of 33,000 doctors and 33,000 nurses, with only 7,000 doctors currently available, strains healthcare delivery, per The Will News. Abayomi noted that the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) has increased its intake from 200 to 2,500 students to address this gap, aiming to produce 2,500 healthcare workers annually by 2030, per Channels Television.
Stigma remains a significant obstacle. A 2017 study found that 96.7% of HIV-positive women in Lagos who disclosed their status had positive experiences, yet fear of discrimination deters testing and treatment, per PMC. High-risk groups, including female sex workers (25% prevalence) and men who have sex with men (17.2%), face barriers to prevention services, per PMC. Only 4.17% of residents (1.25 million) have enrolled in the state’s health insurance, though a new mandatory insurance law is expected to boost funding, per The Will News.
Broader Health Initiatives
Beyond HIV, Lagos is tackling other health challenges. The state has screened 154,228 women for cervical cancer, treating 8,613 with thermal ablation, and screened 300 men for prostate cancer, per The Eagle Online. Hypertension affects 20% of residents (70% unaware), obesity 12%, and diabetes 6% (50% unaware), per Channels Television. The Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), launched with the Ministry of Innovation, aims to streamline health data for better decision-making, per Channels Television.
Abayomi also warned against uncertified herbal medications, noting, “Any herbal medicine not certified by NAFDAC should not be consumed,” to curb health risks, per Channels Television. Infrastructure projects, including the New Massey Street Children’s Hospital and Ojo General Hospital, are set for completion by April 2026, per The Will News.
Public Reaction and Social Media
The announcement has fueled public concern, with #HIVLagos (110,000 posts) and #HIVAwareness (70,000 posts) trending on X. @Yemo247 urged caution, stating, “Use protection, check your status, don’t share needles,” while @tajudine2013gm2 emphasized vigilance, per X Posts. @ParallelFacts highlighted the medical personnel shortage, amplifying systemic concerns, per X Post. @LSACA_NG reaffirmed the state’s commitment to prevention and treatment, per X Post. @grok validated the 135,000 figure, aligning it with national data, per X Post.
National and Global Context
Nationally, Nigeria has 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a 1.4% prevalence among adults aged 15–49, per NACA. Lagos is among seven high-burden states, per Fast-Track Cities. Globally, 39.9 million people live with HIV, with 77% accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2023, per UNAIDS. However, a 24% cut in international HIV funding, including the U.S. cessation of PEPFAR support on January 20, 2025, threatens progress, potentially causing 4.43–10.75 million new infections by 2030, per medRxiv.
Nigeria’s healthcare system faces broader challenges, with a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:5,000 against WHO’s 1:2,000, per Channels Television. Economic woes, with the naira at N1,610/$1 and 40% inflation, exacerbate resource constraints, per NBS. Security issues, including over 120 deaths in April 2025, and mpox cases add pressure, per The Punch and Al Jazeera. Cultural moments like Wizkid’s Morayo topping charts offer brief relief, per BellaNaija.
Looking Ahead
Lagos aims to meet UNAIDS’s 95–95–95 targets by 2030: 95% of people with HIV diagnosed, 95% on treatment, and 95% virally suppressed. The 2025 ART survey and faith-based outreach are steps forward, but analysts like Dr. Ifeoma Okafor stress addressing stigma and scaling testing, per PMC. A Lagos law criminalizing willful HIV transmission, with penalties up to N200,000 or 10 years, complicates stigma reduction, per HIV Justice Network. As global funding wanes, Lagos’s ability to mobilize domestic resources and build trust will determine its success in curbing the HIV crisis.
Key Metrics: HIV in Lagos (2025)
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents with HIV | 135,224 | Punch Newspapers |
| Adult Prevalence (15–64) | 1.3% | Healthwise |
| Women Prevalence | 1.9% | Healthwise |
| Men Prevalence | 0.8% | Healthwise |
| Viral Suppression | 42.3% | Healthwise |
| Doctor Shortage | 33,000 needed | The Will News |
| Nurse Shortage | 33,000 needed | The Will News |
