Lagos State Refutes HIV Infection Claims for 2025

On Thursday, Lagos State officials, including Adewale Ajayi, dismissed reports suggesting that the state would record the highest number of new HIV infections in Nigeria by 2025. Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), clarified that the figures reported represented newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases rather than new infections acquired within that year.

During a press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Animashaun stated that the newly diagnosed cases included individuals who may have contracted the virus in the previous year. She noted that the recent testing of patients referred to Lagos for treatment is a result of the state's extensive healthcare services.

Furthermore, Animashaun explained that the new HIV infections are based on epidemiological surveillance and scientific models, and should not be confused with diagnosis figures. She emphasized that Lagos State's strong surveillance system and healthcare access lead to higher case detection, which should not be misconstrued as evidence of a worsening epidemic.