“We have 7,000 doctors in the state, but the state needs an additional 33,000,” he said.
The Lagos State Government says over 135,000 residents are currently living with HIV, underscoring the scale of the public health challenge in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
“135,224 residents are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),” Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced Wednesday during a briefing marking Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second-term anniversary.
Abayomi said over 100 religious leaders have been engaged as HIV and AIDS ambassadors to fight stigma and boost outreach. “We are using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment in our communities,” he said.
He revealed Lagos has screened over 154,000 women for cervical cancer and treated 8,613, while 300 men underwent prostate screenings.
Despite these efforts, the state faces a severe shortage of healthcare professionals. “We have 7,000 doctors in the state, but the state needs an additional 33,000,” he said.
Only 4.17% of residents have subscribed to the state’s health insurance. Abayomi hopes a new mandatory law will improve enrolment and healthcare funding.