Oyo  Govt Targets Stronger Evidence-based HIV Prevention

…flags off 2026 IBBSS Training

The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening evidence-based HIV prevention strategies through improved data collection and research, as it officially flagged off the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) training for relevant stakeholders in the State.

The training, held today at the Development Support Centre (DSC), Iyaganku, Ibadan, is part of preparations for the nationwide survey aimed at generating current and reliable behavioural and biological data on HIV among key populations.

Flagging off the exercise, the Chairman of OYSACA, Aare (Dr.) Gbola Adetunji, described the survey as a critical public health initiative that would provide the evidence required to understand emerging HIV trends, identify service gaps and guide the effective allocation of resources.

According to him, the 2026 IBBSS would 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).

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

Dr. Adetunji also called for stronger community participation, stressing that key population communities should not be regarded merely as respondents but as important partners in the HIV response.

The Chairman charged the field and technical teams to deliver a credible, ethical and high-quality exercise that would translate into better HIV policies, programmes and health outcomes

He urged stakeholders and community representatives to support field teams and create an environment where participants could provide accurate information without fear, discrimination or stigma.

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.

Representing the Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, Mr. Joseph Terry 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.

Mr. Terry further explained that the survey is supported by the Global Fund, whose funding is subject to strict financial and accountability requirements.

He therefore 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.

He also commended the collaboration between OYSACA and WACPHD, urging both teams to work closely together to ensure that the exercise produces credible results capable of supporting sound health policy and decision-making.

The representative of WACPHD, Mr. Chukwebuka Ejeckam, said the organisation was providing technical support for the implementation of the 2026 IBBSS, which is being conducted simultaneously in 12 States across Nigeria.

According to him, 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 investments in HIV interventions are producing the desired results.

Ejeckam said approximately 40 field personnel had been recruited and were undergoing training in Oyo State, comprising about 31 personnel for the behavioural component and nine personnel for the biological/serological component, including laboratory personnel and counsellors.

He disclosed that the training would be followed by hotspot validation and the commencement of field activities, with the exercise expected to run for approximately two months, covering September and October, after which data analysis, report writing and dissemination would follow.

The Oyo State implementation coordinator, Mr. Aduluju Ayodeji, said the field team would work across the three selected key population typologies and called for the cooperation of community members and eligible participants.

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

Speaking on behalf of the Key Population Secretariat, Mr. 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, speaking, the Acting Coordinating Director of OYSACA, Mrs Fausat Okanlawon, described the IBBSS as more than a routine survey, noting that its findings would serve as a critical compass for Nigeria’s  HIV response among  key populations.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information,

Oyo State.