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Tag: Lagos State AIDS Control Agency

  • LSACA tests 1,877 for HIV

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has counselled and tested 1,877 residents for HIV at various locations across the state.

    Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, disclosed this during an interview at Lafiaji community in Eti-Osa Local Government where the exercise held.

    He said 733 men and 1144 women benefited from its on-going HIV Testing services (HTS). During the exercise, 18 new HIVpositive cases were identified. In all, 37 referrals, he said, were done. They included other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and Tuberculosis (TB).

    Temowo noted that the programmes is to execute UNAIDS 90-90-90 initiative, especially the first ‘90’, based on the policy that 90 percent of the people must know their HIV status and extend it to the second 90, which states that 90 percent of those that know their status get anti-retroviral treatment before the third 90, which emphasise that the 90 percent of those getting treatment must have suppressed the viral load and would not be able to infect others.

  • Lagos takes HIV screening to rural communities

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has conducted a free counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS in three communities/areas with difficult terrains.

    The three-day outreach was held simultaneously in Ikorodu (Odogunyan, Igbo Okuta and Aiyegbami); Eti-Osa (Alpha Beach, Lafiaji and Bamboo) and Ojo (Alaguntan, Okun Baba Tope and Agaja).

    Residents trooped out to access the free HIV testing services (HTS) in the three areas, just as the LSACA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oluseyi Temowo told Southwest Report that the initiative was part of efforts to meet the 90-90-90 strategy of the United Nations in Lagos.

    Dr  Temowo said 90-90-90 is a concept introduced by the United Nations programme on HIV to indicate when a person’s viral load-or the amount of virus in an HIV-positive person’s blood-is reduced to an undetectable level.

    “In 2014, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and partners launched the 90–90–90 targets whose aim was to diagnose 90 per cent of all HIV-positive persons, provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for 90 per cent of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90 per cent of those treated by 2020.

    “So, Lagos as centre of excellence is doing all it can to reach every resident in the state, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” he said.

    At the Ikorodu outreach, the Head, Procurement Unit of LSACA, Peter Adewale said the agency is set to bring the HTS closer to the community.

    “That is why we have campaigned vigorously at Ikorodu and the responses are encouraging as people are trooping out to access the HIV and counselling services in order to know their statuses,” he said.

    Adewale said the impact of the HTS has enabled the agency to pick reactive people who are then referred to the Ikorodu General Hospital, as there is provision for free treatment there.

    “Also for expectant mothers, we encourage them to also access the HTS so as to know their status to avoid transmitting the virus to the unborn child. That way, we are eliminating the possibility of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. If they are reactive (positive) then we place them on drugs that will suppress the virus, and boost their immunity as well,” Adewale said.

    The Programme Officer, Mrs Remilekun Awujoola said for those who possibly did not attend the outreach for various reasons can “go to any of the general hospitals close to them. It is necessary that everybody should know his or her status because there are free drugs provided to treat the condition; nobody should die of AIDS again.”

    A recipient, Abeeb Lasisi said she voluntarily chose to be screened, “not only for HIV but also for other routine tests and I am satisfied. But I must watch my salt intake and also go to the general hospital to check my blood pressure weekly. We are told to tell others to come for the screening.”

    Tijani Tajudeen, another recipient expressed satisfaction with the way the HTS was organised. He said: “The officers were kindly in their conduct. I am doing the HIV screening for the fourth time. I am negative. I am happy with that as a polygamist.

    So, my house is in order. My two wives are also negative. So, all of us are happy.”

  • LSACA conducts HIV screening for workers

    TO achieve the 90-90-90 initiative by 2030, and ensure an AIDS-free Lagos, the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) screened over 700 workers on May Day.

    The event held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

    LSACA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Oluseyi Temowo said the  Workers’ Day presented another opportunity to screen a large number of people for HIV because workers form a huge component of residents in the state.

    Temowo said the Day served a dual purpose – awareness campaign and screening opportunity, because workers have many tentacles- family, friend, and relations and can further the message on HIV to these ones as well.

    “We have been able to update them on the new developments on screening and awareness on HIV/AIDS, including knowing their right- everyone in the state must know his status by 2010.’’

    If confirmed positive, same will be placed on drugs, freely; to obtain a viral suppression. That will ensure eradication of new HIV infection by year 2030.

  • LSACA, LASODA enlighten 250 disabled on HIV/AIDS

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) will  ensure an AIDS-free Lagos, and achieve the 9-90-90 initiative by 2030.

    The agency, in its efforts at achieving the target, has concluded the sensitisation of 250 blind, deaf and disabled people in five batches of 50 participants per batch. It was done in collaboration with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Lagos State Association of the Deaf (LSAD), and Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB).

    According to LSACA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, the agency has been sensitising people in various sectors in the state, including transporters/road workers, market men and women, and people with disability “so as to achieve the 9-90-90- initiative by 2030.

    The state government through  Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Dr Temowo said, is supporting the agency to achieve this and funding has not been an issue. “We are up and doing, highly proactive to ensure that Lagos State achieve that target. And that Prevention of Mother-to -Child Transmission (PMTCT) is achieved,”he said.

    Dr Temowo added that the 250 participants displayed high intelligence. “And that is to tell you that despite their challenges, they won’t allow anything to slow them down. In the same vein, we realised that they are facing some challenges in achieving healthcare in public hospitals and other facilities; all these have been noted and documented. And will be addressed,”he said.

    He continued: “It is out of sense for inclusion that we have been able to develop brailles for them and we are proud that this is just the beginning. Not only that Governor, Ambode has initiated LASODA to ensure an all inclusive society.

    “This training has revealed that the deaf and the blind people had unprotected sex with one another. The hearing communities took advantage of the poverty in the country and among the deaf women and girls to lure them into having unprotected sex with them, which further exposed them to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. Our message now is for consistent and correct use of condoms by all- both able bodied and people with disability.”

    He assured that anybody, who stigmatises or discriminates against people with HIV/AIDS will be prosecuted according to the law of the land. “Stigmatisation remains a major challenge among the hearing community and can be better imagined among the deaf community. The deaf found it difficult to seek medical and social support in combating their health, employment, legal and social challenges, thereby resorting to self-help, which further enhanced their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection,”he said.

    He added: ”Low self esteem, lack of appropriate legal framework made lots of deaf women silently endured dehumanising conditions of sexual and domestic violence without course for redress hence the need for the programm for them to know more about the basic facts about HIV, mode of transmission and prevention, prevention of mother-to -child transmission (PMTCT), universal safety precautions and referral linkages and how to negotiate for safe sex through the use of condom and hand washing.”

    LASODA General Manager, Dr Babatunde Awelenje, who was honoured by LSACA at the event, said people with disability should not shy away from HIV screening, because, “the earlier everybody knows their status the better the disability is put “behind you and you will move forward”.

    “That you have a form of disability or the other should not make you live a care-free life. Be cautious. Do not engage in indiscriminate sex, drug abuse, or drug injection that can predispose you to HIV. Disabled are constantly exposed to discrimination and sexual abuse, but with the support of the state governor through LASODA and the cooperation of relevant agencies and the Police we are getting justice for this critical members of the society,” Dr Awelenje said.

  • LSACA sensitises 250 deaf, blind on HIV

    Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) Chief Executive Officer  Dr. Oluseyi Temowo has said nobody will be left in the agency’s campaign to make the state HIV/AIDs free.

    An an event in Lagos, Temowo said the agency had started sensitising the deaf and the blind on HIV eradication by 2030 to achieve the 90-90-90 initiative.

    The campaign, according to him, was necessary because the people with disability had been neglected except for the Lagos, which had taken the lead in attending to their needs.

    Temowo emphasised that the programme was first of its kind for the deaf and the blind communities in the country. He added that, for the blind to be carried along based on the government of inclusiveness of Lagos, LSACA information, education and communication materials were transcribed into braille for the blind people to read and understand the messages.

    The programme, he maintained, was in five batches of 50 participants in collaboration with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), the Lagos State Association of the Deaf (LSAD), and the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Association of the Blind(NAB).

    Temowo said the deaf and the blind had unprotected sex,  adding that the hearing communities took advantage of  the poverty in the country and among the deaf women and girls to lure them into having unprotected sex with them which further exposed them to the risk of contacting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.

    Stigmatisation, he said, remained a major challenge among the hearing community and could be better imagined among the deaf.

    The deaf, he said, found it difficult to seek medical, social support in combating their health, employment, legal and social challenges thereby resorting to self-help which further enhanced their vulnerability to HIV /AIDS infection.

    He added that, low self-esteem, lack of appropriate legal framework made lots of deaf women to  endure dehumanising conditions of sexual and domestic violence  without redress, hence the need for the programme for them to know more about HIV, its mode of transmission and prevention, Prevention of Mother-to -Child Transmission (PMTCT), Universal Safety Precautions and referral linkages and how to use condom.

  • Market women,men get free HIV testing

    Thousands of market women and men have accessed free HIV testing in the ongoing HIV market intervention programme in Lagos State.

    The programme was  organised by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA).

    The market intervention, according to the CEO of LSACA, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, was a follow-up on the activities to mark the year 2017 World AIDS Day event. Market women and men most times work from morning till night at the expense of their health, he said. The intervention, according to him, would afford them the opportunity to know their HIV status, document their knowledge, attitude and perception on HIV /AIDS, get counseled on risky behaviour that promotes HIV transmission and would help the agency to elicit comprehensive data for the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency in programming for HIV/AIDS among the group in the state.

    Dr. Temowo maintained that aligning with the global trend of ‘Getting to Zero in HIV intervention to eliminate New Infections, Discrimination and AIDS related deaths ‘ and the United Nations 90-90-90 initiative  which is aimed at eradicating the scourge by 2020 through scaling up implementation can go a long way in the achievement of the global initiative among the target group for Lagos State.

    This can be achieved  using the initiative of 90percent of the people living with HIV knowing  their status ,90 percent of the people who their status accessing Anti-retroviral treatment while 90 percent on Anti-retroviral treatment have suppressed viral loads and be able to eradicate the scourge by 2030 in Lagos State .

    In one of the intervention programmes at Mile 12 market,909  market women and men were counseled, tested and received results immediately. At Agbado-Oke -Odo market in Alimosho Local Government  Area, it was 421, Aiyetoro market, Epe- 540, Sabo market, Ikorodu—368 among others. Those found to be positive were referred appropriately, he stated.

    Dr. Temowo maintained that market women and men are very effective in information dissemination through interpersonal communication  and  to get them informed about HIV/AIDS will go a long way in reaching out to the grassroots for early detection and treatment.

    Meanwhile, LSACA has donated groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS, and promised them a good living.

    The event took place at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos monthly gathering in which all the coordinators of a support group of people leaving with HIV/AIDS, Lagos State come together to discuss on the challenges every member  is facing in  and how to resolve same.

    Pastor Peter Obialo, the acting coordinator for Network of People Leaving With HIV/AIDS (NECWAN said HIV patients are facing  a lot of challenges especially stigma and discrimination which cannot be written off. He lamented it is not the way it ought to be. He said people that tested positive are  finding difficult to disclose their status to their partners or family because of fear and the stigma that follows the revelation.They  should be counseled to face the reality of life,he advised.

    Pastor Obialo said ‘’that is why we are here to encourage people to come out to disclose their HIV status and they won’t be stigmatised, rejected or cast out.

    “Though there are little problem here and there especially in the area of finance, which has been their ultimate challenge, we will like to appreciate the Lagos State Government especially Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and LSACA, which has been the only organisation that is helping us. They are the only one we ran to anytime we are facing challenges. We want to appeal to other institutions to come to our aid to empower us in areas of agriculture, poultry and provide a place for the group to start a business so that they too can help in some areas to support the nation. Being an HIV patient is not a death sentence,this  does not mean we can’t work or we are useless in the society. Empower and train us  or employ us so that we too can be useful in the society at large.”

    One of the coordinators Kadiri Oluseyi, said LSACA has  been a wonderful organisation that has been in partnership with NECWAN for some years back as it has strengthened a lot of people living with HIV/ADS by building their capacity giving  nutritional support and care.

    CEO LSCA,  Dr Oluseyi Temiwo who was represented by Mrs Adebambo Olusola, Assistant Chief Health Education Officer, said the mission of LSCA is to care and support people living with HIV.The   exercise is an “expression of our commitment to the uplifting  of the status of HIV people and that is why we haven’t relented in showing our love, care and support by donating to them. And as part of our plan, we want to  train and  empower them in any skill of their choice and assist them with capital to set up a business in any of the areas they have been trained for.”

  • Free HIV screening for NURTW members

    Free HIV screening for NURTW members

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has commenced a study on HIV prevalence among the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State.

    Commenting at the inauguration ceremony of the programme at the Ojota New Garage, the Principal Investigator of NIMR, Dr. A. Z. Musa stated that the programme was aimed at identifying the level of prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV among road transport workers.

    She explained that Lagos State has been maintaining the Integrated Behavioural Biological Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) over the years but wants a specific prevalence survey among the members of the NURTW.

    According to her, the different branches and units were compressed into 10 clusters for easy operation. She added that the survey would be carried out in the three Senatorial districts of Lagos Central, West and East to achieve the mission of the programme.

    Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA said it was good to collaborate with NIMR on a study such as the NURTW HIV prevalence study because of the track records of NIMR over the years.

    He believed that the survey would help the agency to have adequate data on HIV prevalence among members of the NURTW. He stressed the importance Governor Akinwunmi Ambode placed on the group, hence the need for the study among them.

    Responding on behalf of members of the NURTW, Mr. Francis Olasanwoye praised the Lagos State government for considering their members for HIV programme, even as he suggested that HIV screening exercise should be carried out for their members every six months. He also said the health programme should be expanded to include other health challenges such as eye screening and dispensing of required eye glasses.