Lagos State government, on Wednesday, said that it is set to develop the 2025-2027 HIV Action Response Plan (HARP) for the prevention and control of HIV in the state.

Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, disclosed this during a three-day Action Planning Workshop organised by the agency in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for relevant stakeholders, which was held at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Animashaun explained that the development of the Action Plan is geared towards advancing the HIV prevention strategies of the state.

The need to develop the action plan was informed by the findings from an earlier assessment of the state’s HIV response, which used the HIV Prevention System Assessment Tool (PSAT) and identified strategic gaps in the current HIV prevention framework.

“In line with our commitment to the prevention and control of HIV in the state, LSACA has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to advance the state’s HIV prevention efforts. Together, we have embarked on the development of the 2025-2027 HIV Action Response Plan (HARP). This comprehensive plan was informed by findings from an earlier assessment using the HIV Prevention System Assessment Tool (PSAT), which identified strategic gaps,” she said.

Declaring the workshop open, Animashaun said that the workshop would serve as a crucial platform for stakeholders to come together and contribute towards the development of a comprehensive and effective action plan that will address the constantly changing HIV prevention needs of the state.

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While commending the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for collaborating with the state government, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) noted that the fight against HIV is an ongoing battle and can only be won through collaborative efforts and strategic planning.

She urged all participants to actively engage in meaningful discussions for a productive outcome.

“As we all know, the fight against HIV is an ongoing battle, and it is only through collaborative efforts and strategic planning that we can continue to make progress. I urge you all to actively participate and engage in meaningful discussions, as our collective efforts will shape the future of HIV prevention in our state,” she said.

Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Somefun Esther, assured that the workshop would yield a comprehensive and effective HIV Action Plan, which is intended to address the gaps identified in an earlier assessment of the state’s HIV response strategy.

She, however, pledged the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the state government in the fight against the HIV virus, as productive partnerships will create effective strategies that will improve community health outcomes.