The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) on Monday said 15,831 people have tested positive to HIV/AIDS out of 289,044 screened for the disease in the state’s community-based programme between last December and this month.
It said 105,304 people were tested through community outreach, 183,740 through health facilities.
The agency said these during the World AIDS Day programme. The theme is: “Getting to zero on HIV and AIDS scourge.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Avoseh Hodewu Suru, urged the people to know their status, stressing that it is through this that the country can reduce the spread of the disease.
“When people know their status, then we can take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
Hon. Suru said the immunity of people who have the disease might be consumed by the virus if they don’t know their status early enough.
He enjoined the people to surrender themselves to HIV and AIDS testing so that the country can get to zero level on the disease.
The Permanent Secretary, in the state Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi Desalu, said getting zero new infection, deaths and stigmatization are possible but there should be a political will.
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