Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has disclosed that more than 135,000 residents in the state are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, underscoring the ongoing public health concerns in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Speaking at a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, Abayomi stated, “135,224 people in Lagos are living with HIV. We are stepping up our awareness and treatment initiatives to address this challenge.”
He revealed that the state has partnered with over 100 religious leaders to serve as HIV/AIDS ambassadors in a bid to reduce stigma and increase awareness.
“We’re using trusted voices to promote education, testing, and treatment across communities,” he added.
Aside from its HIV response, Lagos State has intensified efforts to combat other health issues.
According to the Commissioner, over 154,000 women have received free cervical cancer screenings, with 8,613 of them undergoing thermal ablation treatment.
Additionally, 300 men have been screened for prostate cancer, while nearly 313,000 residents have been checked for hypertension and diabetes.
Abayomi expressed concern over the rising cases of non-communicable diseases in the state.
“In a population of 30 million, about 20% are estimated to have hypertension, but 70% of them are unaware. We also have a 12% obesity rate and 6% diabetes prevalence, with half of those affected not knowing they have the condition,” he explained.
Despite the state’s health interventions, Lagos is facing a critical shortage of medical personnel. “We currently have 7,000 doctors, but we need 33,000 more, along with an additional 33,000 nurses, to meet healthcare needs,” Abayomi said.
To tackle this, the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health is expected to train and graduate about 2,500 health professionals annually within the next five years.
The Commissioner also highlighted the low uptake of the state’s health insurance scheme, noting that only 4.17% of registered residents—around 1.25 million people—have enrolled. However, he expressed optimism about the newly passed mandatory health insurance law.
“The compulsory nature of the new law will expand the funding pool significantly,” he stated.
In terms of infrastructure, Abayomi announced that major health projects, including the New Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Ojo General Hospital, and a Mental Health Institute in Epe, are nearing completion and are scheduled for commissioning by April 2026.
The Lagos State Government says it remains committed to expanding healthcare access and improving outcomes through strategic partnerships, infrastructure upgrades, and capacity building.
