Lagos Government Organises Free HIV Screening for Public Servants

HIV Screening exercise.

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), has provided free HIV screening and counselling services for public servants as part of the 2024 Public Service Week celebrations.

The event, held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, saw attendance from workers across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Head of Service, Bode Agoro, reiterated the government’s commitment to sustainable healthcare delivery for its workforce. He emphasized the importance of good health for productivity and encouraged public officers to take advantage of the free health screening while prioritizing their overall health by seeking appropriate healthcare services.

Agoro further assured that the Lagos State Government would continue to foster a conducive and healthy work environment for its employees. He also congratulated the public servants on the successful celebration of the 2024 Public Service Week, commending them for their dedication to effective service delivery.

Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, highlighted the theme of the week, “Fostering Innovation Amid Global Challenges: A Public Sector Perspective,” as a timely focus, noting that the agency is exploring innovative policies aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030. She added that LSACA  leads HIV/AIDS control efforts in the state through increased access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), public awareness initiatives, free HIV testing, and community outreach programs.

Dr F reported that 675 public servants benefited from the free HIV screening and counselling services, which also included the distribution of condoms and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials.

She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving healthcare staus of workers also curbing the spread of HIV by ensuring the necessary resources for prevention, testing, and treatment are made available.