The Ogun State Government has taken a major step forward in its fight against HIV/AIDS with the launch of a new strategic plan designed to achieve zero new infections, strengthen treatment systems, and ensure continuous care for people living with the virus. The plan represents a renewed commitment to improving public health and advancing the well-being of all residents.
The announcement was made during the opening of a three-day stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Abeokuta, focused on developing the Ogun State HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan for 2025–2027.
At the event, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tayo Lawal, explained the urgency of creating a robust and localized response to HIV, especially as international donor support continues to decline.
“We can no longer rely on the kind of funding we had during the World Bank era. The burden of sustaining HIV prevention and care has increasingly fallen on the shoulders of state governments,” she said.
“Ending this epidemic requires more than government effort—it demands a coordinated, multisectoral response involving all stakeholders.”
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Kehinde Fatungase, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA), called for the creation of a technical work plan that will serve as a road map for the state’s HIV/AIDS response through 2027.
While acknowledging the presence of a National Strategic Plan, Dr. Fatungase emphasized the need for Ogun State to design an implementation strategy that reflects its local realities and resource environment.
“We must be strategic and intentional about how we use our resources. A targeted, locally-driven plan will guide our interventions and ensure better results,” he added.
The engagement attracted support from key partners, including representatives of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), APIN Public Health Initiative, and the Civil Society Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. These organizations pledged their continued support to ensure the plan is not only developed but successfully executed.
Their contributions are expected to bolster service delivery, improve access to testing and treatment, and promote public education to combat stigma and prevent transmission.
Once finalized, the new strategic plan will guide Ogun State’s efforts to significantly reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS over the next three years. The government aims to build a comprehensive response that prioritizes prevention, care, and support, and brings the state closer to the national and global goal of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
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