Ogun State Government has announced significant progress in curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS, with improved access to treatment, expanded testing coverage and strengthened prevention programmes across all Local Government Areas.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The global event is themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”.
Dr. Coker revealed that over 30,000 residents are currently receiving free antiretroviral therapy, adding that HIV testing and counselling services are now fully available across the state’s 20 LGAs. According to her, 96 percent of people tested in Ogun now know their HIV status, reflecting major improvements in early detection.
“We have strengthened our response and improved access to life-saving services”, she said.
“Today in Ogun State, 96% of people living with HIV know their status, while 78% are on treatment. We hope to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target by the year 2030”.
She also noted a significant expansion in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, leading to more HIV-free births than ever before.
The Commissioner added that the recently considered policy to reduce the age of voluntary HIV testing to 14 years would further strengthen Ogun’s response as “the tertiary institution hub of Nigeria”.
While highlighting ongoing challenges such as stigma, declining donor funding and service disruptions, Dr. Coker affirmed that Ogun State is focused on sustaining progress.
She announced that the State has developed a two-year strategic plan (2025–2027) centered on eliminating mother-to-child transmission by 2030, strengthening health systems, promoting community-led responses and mobilizing domestic resources.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, emphasised the need for stronger advocacy and consistent funding, noting that “lack of funds and the dwindling presence of donors remain major obstacles”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, said the World AIDS Day celebration underscores the importance of awareness and local ownership of the HIV response.
He called for the internalisation and institutionalisation of interventions to reduce reliance on external support.
Dr. Coker urged all stakeholders to intensify efforts to reduce HIV prevalence to the barest minimum, reaffirming government’s commitment to a healthier, HIV-free Ogun State.
