LSACA Engages Religious Leaders in Sensitization Workshop on HIV Prevention and Stigma Reduction

The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has reaffirmed its commitment to ending HIV-related stigma and discrimination through a Sensitization Workshop on HIV Prevention and HIV-Related Stigma for Religious Leaders, held at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja.

The annual event, which forms part of the Lagos State Government’s strategic efforts toward the effective management and control of HIV, brought together influential religious leaders from all five divisions of the state to strengthen faith-based collaboration in advancing HIV prevention, treatment literacy, and stigma reduction within their communities.

In her keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, made a passionate appeal for collective responsibility in eradicating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. She emphasized that despite over four decades of global response to the epidemic, complacency has set in, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“HIV has been with us for nearly 40 years, yet we have allowed complacency to weaken our collective response. The global focus on COVID-19 made many believe that HIV is no longer a major threat. While the world developed a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, we are still waiting for an HIV vaccine. But the real challenge is not the absence of a vaccine; it is the way we treat those living with HIV,” she stated.

Dr. Animashaun stressed that HIV is no longer a death sentence, citing medical advancements that allow people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives. However, she lamented that social stigma and discrimination continue to inflict deep psychological suffering, sometimes with fatal consequences.

“The mental torture caused by rejection and discrimination is as deadly as the virus itself. We must change how we see and treat people living with HIV in our homes, communities, and places of worship,” she urged.

She recounted a tragic case involving a young person who contracted HIV at the age of ten, underscoring the urgent need for compassion, inclusion, and understanding within faith communities.

The Chief Executive Officer therefore urged religious leaders to use their platforms to promote HIV awareness, encourage voluntary testing, and challenge stigma. She assured that LSACA will continue to provide free testing and counselling services across communities in the state, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to building an inclusive and stigma-free Lagos.