​The Lagos State Government has expanded its free and confidential HIV testing alongside professional counselling services to cover public servants and attendees at the ongoing 2026 International Trade Fair.
​This public health initiative is being spearheaded by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance community wellness, dismantle social stigma around health screenings, and integrate routine testing into daily life across the state.
​The screening program is currently anchored at the Lagos Pavilion within the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Lagos Island. Designed to maximize outreach, the ten-day exercise commenced on Friday, November 6, 2026, and will run through Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Beyond voluntary HIV screening, the comprehensive service package includes mandatory pre- and post-test counselling, preventive health education, and immediate referral linkages to specialized care facilities for individuals requiring treatment.
​Underlining the government’s commitment to worker welfare, the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, highlighted during the Public Service Week health exercise that preventive healthcare remains essential for maintaining a vibrant and effective civil service. He called on public sector employees to embrace continuous personal health monitoring as a vital component of optimal service delivery.
​Echoing this commitment, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, reiterated the state’s non-discriminatory approach to health delivery. She urged residents, trade fair exhibitors, and visitors alike to make HIV testing a standard element of their routine health maintenance rather than waiting for symptomatic triggers.
She also noted that while the trade fair exercise provides immediate access, these free services remain permanently available across designated health facilities throughout Lagos State.
