Lagos Takes Free HIV Testing to Workplaces and Trade Fair as Outreach Runs Until November 15

The Lagos State Government has taken free HIV testing and counselling services closer to workers and members of the public through separate screening activities targeting public servants and participants at the 2026 Lagos International Trade Fair.

The initiative, implemented by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), is designed to make HIV screening more accessible, encourage early diagnosis and help residents connect with appropriate medical care when necessary.

Rather than relying only on residents to visit health facilities, the latest intervention brings screening services into two locations that attract large numbers of people: the state public service and the Lagos International Trade Fair.

At the trade fair, LSACA has established a screening point at the Lagos Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where exhibitors, traders, visitors and other participants can access free and confidential HIV testing.

The exercise began on Friday, November 6, and is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

The agency’s team also provides counselling, information on HIV prevention and guidance on accessing treatment and care for people who require further medical attention. The arrangement allows participants to seek information and testing without having to leave the exhibition grounds to visit another facility.

Public servants included in Lagos health screening programme

The second intervention took place during the Lagos State Public Service Week health screening exercise.

The Head of Service, Bode Agoro, officially opened the programme and encouraged government employees to take preventive healthcare seriously.

According to reports on the exercise, public servants were offered confidential HIV testing, counselling and information on prevention, transmission and treatment.

Agoro said access to preventive healthcare was important to maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. He also urged public servants to make regular medical checks part of their personal health responsibilities.

The public service exercise is separate from the screening point at the Lagos Pavilion, although both interventions form part of the state’s wider effort to improve access to HIV-related services.

Why the trade fair location matters

Taking health services to commercial gatherings can help reach people who may not ordinarily schedule a hospital visit for routine screening.

The Lagos International Trade Fair brings together traders, business owners, exhibitors, customers and visitors from different parts of the state and beyond. Establishing a temporary screening point at the venue gives participants an opportunity to access health information and testing while attending the event.

There is also a previous example of this approach.

In November 2025, LSACA reported that more than 700 exhibitors and visitors accessed free HIV testing and confidential counselling during the Lagos International Trade Fair at Tafawa Balewa Square.

That figure provides a useful indication of the potential reach of the outreach model. However, it should not be confused with the 2026 turnout, as the agency has not yet published the final number of people screened in the current exercise.

The outcome of this year’s programme will be important in assessing how many people the intervention reaches and whether the approach can be sustained at other public gatherings.

What happens after an HIV screening?

HIV testing helps individuals know their status and make informed decisions about their health.

For people who receive a positive screening result, further testing and appropriate medical assessment are necessary in line with established testing procedures. A screening result should not be treated as a substitute for the full diagnostic process.

People who are confirmed to have HIV can access treatment and ongoing medical support. With appropriate treatment, people living with HIV can maintain their health and lead productive lives.

This is why counselling and linkage to care are important parts of the Lagos initiative, rather than testing alone.

The World Health Organization has also identified HIV testing as an important entry point for prevention, treatment and care services.

Where residents can access the free services

Residents attending the 2026 Lagos International Trade Fair can visit the LSACA screening point at the Lagos Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square, before the exercise ends on November 15.

The agency has also encouraged residents to access free HIV testing, counselling and other related services at designated health facilities across Lagos State.

The Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the government remained committed to expanding access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care without discrimination.

She encouraged residents to consider HIV testing a routine part of healthcare rather than waiting until they suspect an infection before seeking screening.

For Lagos, the important measure of the programme will extend beyond the number of people tested. Sustained access to confidential services, timely diagnosis and successful connections to treatment will determine how much lasting public health value the outreach delivers.

Reporting note: CentralNewsNG has distinguished the Public Service Week screening exercise from the separate Trade Fair outreach. The 2025 participation figure is historical and is not presented as a 2026 result.