135,224 Residents Living With HIV In Lagos, Says State Government.
The Lagos State Government has made significant strides in public health, disclosing that 135,224 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The revelation was made by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, during the ongoing 2025 ministerial press briefing marking the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
In a bid to strengthen community engagement, Professor Abayomi announced that the state has appointed over 100 religious leaders as HIV and AIDS ambassadors to support awareness, prevention, and destigmatisation efforts across local communities.
In the area of cancer care, the state government has also provided free screening for 154,228 residents for cervical cancer. Of these, 8,613 women received treatment through thermal ablation. Additionally, 300 men were screened for prostate cancer, reflecting the state’s broader commitment to preventative healthcare.
Addressing the growing concern over non-communicable diseases, Abayomi detailed the state’s efforts to combat hypertension and diabetes, two of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Lagos. The government has distributed 667 blood pressure monitors, 770 glucometers, and 332 stethoscopes to general hospitals and primary healthcare centres to boost diagnostic capabilities.
So far, 312,927 people have been screened for hypertension and diabetes across the state. Based on current estimates, hypertension affects roughly 20 per cent of Lagos’s 30 million residents—yet 70 per cent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Diabetes prevalence stands at 6 per cent, with half of those affected also unaware of their status. Obesity, another critical health risk, has a prevalence rate of 12 per cent in the state.
“These figures highlight the urgent need for regular screening and public health education,” the Commissioner stated. “Our goal is to equip health centres with the necessary tools while continuing to raise awareness across all communities.”
The initiatives form part of a wider public health strategy by the Lagos State Government to enhance early detection, promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure wider access to treatment across the megacity.
