Oyo State Government don reaffirm say e serious to strengthen fight against HIV through better data collection, proper research and evidence-based prevention programmes.
The government make the commitment as stakeholders begin official training for the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) for Oyo State. The training hold for Development Support Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, as part of preparation for the nationwide HIV survey.
The survey go focus mainly on gathering fresh and reliable information about HIV among some key populations, including Female Sex Workers, Men Who Have Sex with Men, and People Who Inject Drugs.
Chairman of Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, OYSACA, Aare Dr. Gbola Adetunji, describe the survey as an important public health exercise wey go help government understand how HIV dey change, identify where people still dey lack access to services and decide where resources suppose go.
He explain say the survey go collect information about people’s background, knowledge about HIV, beliefs, risky behaviours, access to prevention and treatment services, awareness of HIV status and whether people dey take treatment.
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According to am, previous surveys don already show say HIV burden among some key population groups remain significant. Na why government need fresh and reliable data to know whether previous interventions dey work and how future HIV programmes suppose be planned.
Adetunji also call for stronger involvement of affected communities, saying key population communities no suppose only dey treated as people wey government dey collect information from. Instead, dem suppose become important partners for the HIV response.
He charge field workers and technical teams to make sure say the exercise dey credible, ethical and properly conducted. He also appeal to stakeholders and community representatives to support the field teams and create environment where participants fit give correct information without fear, discrimination or stigma.
Representing the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, Mr. Joseph Terry explain say IBBSS na national government survey wey follow approved guidelines from the IBBSS Technical Working Group and Federal Ministry of Health.
He warn say all teams must strictly follow the approved protocol and properly document everything wey dem do during the exercise.
Terry also reveal say the survey dey supported by the Global Fund, meaning say proper financial records and accountability go be very important before funds tied to different stages of the project fit release.
The West Africa Centre for Public Health and Development, WACPHD, also dey provide technical support for the exercise.
Representing WACPHD, Mr. Chukwebuka Ejeckam reveal say the 2026 survey dey take place simultaneously for 12 states across Nigeria.
He reference the 2020 IBBSS, wey record HIV prevalence of about 15.5 per cent among female sex workers and 10.9 per cent among people who inject drugs.
According to am, the figures show why fresh data dey necessary to determine whether the country’s investment in HIV prevention and treatment programmes don dey produce the expected results.
For Oyo State, about 40 field personnel don reportedly get recruitment and dem dey undergo training. About 31 people go handle the behavioural aspect of the survey, while nine personnel go work on the biological and serological aspect, including laboratory workers and counsellors.
After the training, officials go carry out hotspot validation before field activities officially begin. The exercise expected to last about two months, covering September and October, after which authorities go analyse the data, prepare report and release the findings.
Oyo State Implementation Coordinator, Mr. Aduluju Ayodeji, appeal to community members and eligible participants to cooperate with the field teams.
He assure participants say their privacy and confidentiality go remain protected, and all information collected go dey handled responsibly and securely.
The Key Population Secretariat also commend OYSACA for its continued support to key population communities in Oyo State and promise to support the successful implementation of the survey.
Meanwhile, Acting Coordinating Director of OYSACA, Mrs. Fausat Okanlawon, describe the IBBSS as more than ordinary data collection exercise.
According to her, the findings go serve as an important compass for Nigeria HIV response, especially when government dey plan how to prevent new infections, improve treatment and make sure say people wey need HIV services fit access dem.
The overall aim of the exercise na to provide government and health partners with fresh, credible evidence wey go help shape better HIV policies, programmes and resource allocation across Oyo State and Nigeria.
