The state government says the move will reduce dependence on foreign donor funding and guarantee uninterrupted access to treatment, as new figures show a decline in HIV positivity and mother-to-child transmission.

The Lagos State Government has commenced the procurement of HIV treatment drugs using state funds, in a major effort to sustain treatment for 147,904 people living with the virus across the state.

The initiative is aimed at reducing the state's dependence on international donor funding and ensuring that patients continue to receive essential medication without interruption, particularly as global health funding priorities continue to change.

The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) disclosed this while highlighting its achievements under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Folakemi Animashaun.

According to the agency, the state-funded procurement of antiretroviral drugs represents a significant step towards strengthening local financing and ensuring that Lagos can independently sustain its HIV response.

The development comes as the state prepares a 10-year HIV Sustainability and Transition Roadmap covering 2027 to 2037. The roadmap is expected to provide a long-term framework for financing HIV programmes and maintaining essential services.

LSACA described the procurement initiative as a historic intervention designed to protect thousands of patients from potential disruptions that could arise from changes in international donor support.

Beyond securing access to medication, the agency also reported improvements in key HIV indicators, particularly in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

It disclosed that the HIV positivity rate among infants undergoing Early Infant Diagnosis dropped significantly from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025.

The overall HIV positivity rate also declined from 2.4 per cent to 1.9 per cent during the period, despite an expansion of testing services across the state.

The agency attributed the progress to sustained investments in HIV prevention, testing, counselling, treatment and interventions aimed at preventing pregnant women living with the virus from transmitting it to their babies.

On policy and institutional development, LSACA said it had introduced the Lagos State Strategic Plan on HIV 2025–2027 to strengthen coordination, improve access to healthcare services and address barriers preventing people from receiving treatment and support.

It also developed the HIV Action Response Plan 2025–2027 with technical guidance from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and support from the United Nations Population Fund.

As part of efforts to improve programme delivery, the agency is developing the SAFEHUB application to strengthen the coordination and implementation of HIV interventions. Stakeholder testing and training of trainers have already been conducted to support the platform's adoption.

The agency also highlighted its efforts to protect the rights and dignity of people living with HIV, disclosing that it established a Gender and Human Rights Response Team and distributed guidelines addressing the relationship between gender-based violence and HIV.

It further reported engagements with persons with disabilities to promote equal and inclusive access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and support services.

In addition to healthcare interventions, the state said it had extended support to the economic empowerment of people living with HIV.

More than 400 beneficiaries have reportedly received livelihood equipment, including grinding machines and other tools, to help them establish income-generating activities and become more financially independent.

The initiative, according to the agency, recognises that improving the lives of people living with HIV requires more than access to medication, as economic difficulties can also affect their wellbeing and quality of life.

LSACA also disclosed that it hosted the seventh National Council on AIDS in collaboration with NACA and released the State AIDS Spending Assessment Report covering the period between 2018 and 2023.

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The exercise was aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, coordination among development partners and monitoring of funds allocated to HIV-related programmes.

The agency said the achievements recorded under Animashaun's leadership formed part of broader efforts to achieve Lagos State's target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

With the commencement of state-funded antiretroviral drug procurement, Lagos is seeking to strengthen its capacity to sustain HIV treatment, expand prevention programmes and protect thousands of residents who depend on continuous access to medication.