10,606 Lagosians Tested HIV Positive In The Last One Year!

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris on Tuesday at a ministerial press conference in Alausa, Lagos, disclosed that at least, 10,606 Lagosians have tested positive for the dreaded HIV disease in public hospitals and facilities in the last one year.

He further disclosed that out of the 58,792 people counselled and tested for HIV, 10,606 of them were found to be positive, which represented 18 percent of the total figure.

He stated that the government conducted the fourth phase of sensitization of Traditional Birth Attendant, TBA, on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, PMTCT, Universal Safety Precaution, USP, and Referral Linkage to PMTCT intervention.

According to him, 28,736 pregnant women were counselled and tested during the outreach, out of
which 340 were positive and referred to PMTCT services, adding that 2,957 HIV positive clients commenced anti-retroviral treatment in the last one year. He disclosed that 1,066 HIV positive pregnant women and 745 HIV exposed babies were placed on antiretroviral vaccine prophylaxis.