HEALTH Diseases

Oyo Deepens HIV Prevention With Improved Data, Research

by admin on | 2026-08-21 12:23:43

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Oyo Deepens HIV Prevention With Improved Data, Research

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama 

The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening evidence-based HIV prevention strategies through improved data collection and research.

The Chairman, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr Gbola Adetunji, disclosed this at the flag-off of the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) training for relevant stakeholders in the state.

Dr Adetunji described the survey as a critical public health initiative that will provide the evidence required to understand emerging HIV trends, identify service gaps and guide the effective allocation of resources.

He said the 2026 IBBSS will generate information on the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, beliefs, risk behaviours, access to HIV prevention and care services, HIV status awareness, and treatment uptake among key populations, including Female Sex Workers (FSW), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and People Who Inject Drugs (PWID).

Adetunji noted that the findings of previous IBBSS rounds had shown significant HIV burden among key populations, stressing that updated data were essential to determine the impact of interventions and shape future programming.

The Chairman called for stronger community participation, noting that key population communities should not be regarded merely as respondents but as important partners in the HIV response.

He assured the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the West Africa Centre for Public Health and Development (WACPHD), development partners and other stakeholders of Oyo State’s continued support and collaboration towards the successful implementation of the survey.

Joseph Terry, who represented the Director-General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, described the IBBSS as a national government survey whose protocol had been reviewed by the IBBSS Technical Working Group and approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.

He stressed that the exercise must be treated as a national assignment, with strict adherence to the approved protocol and proper documentation of all activities, explaining that the survey is supported by the Global Fund, whose funding is subject to strict financial and accountability requirements. 

Terry urged all implementing teams to maintain comprehensive documentation, noting that proper records would be critical to the successful release of funds tied to implementation milestones.

The representative of WACPHD, Chukwebuka Ejeckam, disclosed that the organisation was providing technical support for the implementation of the 2026 IBBSS being conducted simultaneously in 12 states across Nigeria.

He said the 2020 IBBSS recorded substantial HIV prevalence among key populations, including 15.5 per cent among female sex workers and 10.9 per cent among people who inject drugs, underscoring the need for fresh data to assess progress and determine whether or not investments in HIV interventions are producing the desired results.

The Oyo State Implementation Coordinator, Aduluju Ayodeji, stated that the field team will work across the three selected key population typologies and called for the cooperation of community members and eligible participants.

He assured participants that confidentiality will be strictly maintained, stressing that information collected during the survey would be handled responsibly and securely.

Speaking on behalf of the Key Population Secretariat, Ajani Kayode appreciated OYSACA under the leadership of Dr Adetunji for its continued support to key population communities in the state.

He expressed confidence in the quality of personnel selected for the exercise, describing them as capable hands, and pledged the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the survey.

Also, the Acting Coordinating Director of OYSACA, Mrs Fausat Okanlawon, described the IBBSS as more than a routine survey, noting that its findings will serve as a critical compass for Nigeria's HIV response among key populations.

The training, held in Ibadan, was part of preparations for the nationwide survey aimed at generating current and reliable behavioural and biological data on HIV among key populations.