OVER 10,000 people have tested positive for HIV in Lagos State over the last year out of a total of the 58,792 people counselled and tested according to the state commissioner of health Dr Jide Idris.  

According to Dr Idris, about 10,606 Lagos residents were tested in public hospitals and facilities over the last one year. He added that this showed that 18% of the total number of individuals tested proved positive. 

In addition, Dr Idris said the government also conducted the fourth phase of sensitisation of traditional birth attendants on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, Universal Safety Precaution and referral linkage to PMTCT intervention. He added that, 28,736 pregnant women were counselled and tested during the outreach programme, out of which 340 were positive and referred to PMTCT services, while 2,957 HIV positive people commenced anti-retroviral treatment. 

Furthermore, the commissioner disclosed that 1,066 HIV positive pregnant women and 745 HIV exposed babies were placed on antiretroviral vaccine prophylaxis. One of the world's worst affected countries, Nigeria had the second highest number of people living with HIV in 2011 according to the World Health Organisation. 

Figures published four years ago showed that 2.4m Nigerians were living with HIV, just second behind the South African figure of 3.3m. As part of a programme to stem the tide, Unaids, the World Health Organisation and Unicef stepped up the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to Nigeria and this is now beginning to yield dividends. 

Dr Idris also disclosed that the task force on fake drugs shut 194 pharmacies and drug stores over the last one year for selling fake drugs without getting the needed approval from the Lagos State government. He also revealed that of the 42,908 people screened for diabetes and hypertension, 6,842 of them were hypertensive while 1,382 were diabetic.