Ogun State Government says more than thirty thousand residents are now benefiting from free antiretroviral therapy across health facilities as part of efforts to reduce the burden of HIV and AIDS in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, gave the update in Abeokuta on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at the 2025 World AIDS Day event held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke Mosan. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”.
Dr Coker noted that the scale up of free treatment and wider access to HIV testing have positioned the state on a stronger path.
She said that testing and counseling services are now available in all twenty local government areas which has brought care closer to communities.
She explained that ninety six percent of people tested for HIV in the state now know their status.
She added that the state has also expanded its prevention of mother to child transmission programme which has led to more mothers giving birth to children free of the virus.
“We have strengthened our response and improved access to life saving services. Today in Ogun State, ninety six percent of people living with HIV know their status while seventy eight percent are on treatment.”
“Over thirty thousand people in Ogun State are receiving free antiretroviral therapy in our health facilities. We hope to achieve the UNAIDS target of ninety five, ninety five, ninety five by the year 2030,” she said.
Dr Coker also mentioned that at the recent National Council on Health meeting, discussions were held on reducing the age for voluntary HIV testing to fourteen.
According to her, this is important for Ogun State which hosts a large population of young people in tertiary institutions.
She said the state has continued to make progress through the work of OGSACA, its partners and health workers.
She added that the government is pursuing the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by 2030, improving health systems, using data for decision making and supporting community driven responses.
While acknowledging that new infections still occur, she warned that stigma, declining global funding and disruptions in service delivery remain threats especially for vulnerable groups.
Dr Coker said the state has produced a two year strategic plan, from 2025 to 2027, which will guide actions on reducing infections, strengthening structures and sustaining access to prevention, testing and treatment.
She called for collective support to further reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in the state.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Rotimi Ogungbe, stressed the need for stronger advocacy and better funding, saying that lack of resources and limited donor support remain concerns.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kayode Oladeinde, said the World AIDS Day event was aimed at creating awareness and encouraging communities to take responsibility for the fight against the disease.
