On Tuesday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, revealed that 46,143 individuals in Ogun State have tested positive for HIV/AIDS. This disclosure was made during a press briefing in Abeokuta, outlining activities planned to commemorate the 2023 World AIDS Day.

Dr. Coker reported that between 2020 and 2023, out of 782,005 people tested, 21,083 individuals tested positive for HIV/AIDS. The state’s HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 1.6%, with 12,654 individuals still without access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

The theme for the 2023 World AIDS Day, “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030,” underscores the crucial role communities play in fighting the virus. To bolster Ogun State’s testing capacity, 400 HIV testing centers have been established across its 20 local government areas.

“Sadly, in Ogun State, 46,143 people are estimated to be living with HIV, while 33,489 of these have been identified and placed on sustained treatment,” Dr. Coker stated. “However, 12,654 individuals are yet to be reached. These individuals are spread within the communities, which is why community leadership is critical in our response to ending HIV.”

Dr. Coker further explained that Ogun State has significantly increased its health facilities providing HIV services from 198 in 2019 to 497 as of November 2023. Additionally, the state has deployed 300 community testers across the 20 LGAs to aid in case finding, with comprehensive treatment centers expanding from 22 to 43.

Dr. Kehinde Fatungase, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (OGSACA), highlighted the establishment of HIV testing centers in tertiary institutions for students’ testing and counseling. He urged the public, particularly young people, to get tested, know their status, and help curb the spread of the virus.