By Chioma Obinna & Jennifer Aladetan

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has said that it is targeting about 15,000 people for Human Immune deficiency Virus, HIV, testing and counselling in the ongoing free medical outreach programme in Lagos. Disclosing this during the flag – off of the exercise which is holding simultaneously in Kairo Market Oshodi and Ejigbo Market play ground all in Isolo – Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State, the Director Partnerships Coordination, NACA, Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan stressed the need for every Nigerian to know his or her HIV status.

Alhassan said the counselling and testing campaign was designed to promote the culture of HIV counselling and testing among Lagosians. “In terms of prevalence, Lagos state is actually higher than the national average but not the highest. National average is about 3.4 percent but Lagos has a higher rate of 5.1 percent. It is important to know that because of the population in Lagos when you translate the percentage into numbers, it’s huge. That is why Lagos is one of our priority 12+1 states.”

“Our 12 states and the FCT account for about 70 percent of the HIV burden in Nigeria that is why Lagos state is very critical. A lot of work has been done here and a lot of work is ongoing. Lagos State is one of the strongest states that are responding to the epidemics,” he explained. Continuing, Alhassan who said the testing programme was being done alongside other medical screening for hypertension, malaria among others, said: “In the next five days, we are expecting to screen a minimum of about 8,000 people but we are looking at 15,000 people.”

For beneficiaries who tested negative, the Director stated that the team will give them tips on how they can stay negative. “We encourage them to abstain, or use condoms to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. For people who are positive we refer them to the nearest support groups and to several ART centres for confirmatory test and other tests. If you need to be on treatment we will direct you to the nearest ART sites where you can go and collect the drugs free.”

He further announced that the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child has drastically reduced due to the various programmes of the government that ensure the pregnant women who are HIV positive don’t transmit to their children. Continuing, he said the campaign is focusing more resources on NACA 12 +1 states, adding that presently, it has covered over 20 states of the federation and over 60 locations in the various 12+1 states.

Alhassan, however, called on Lagosians to come enmasse to access the free screening programme which is being done in conjunction with SURE-P