Oyo State strengthens HIV prevention with new data collection initiative

This pledge was made during the official flag-off of the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey IBBSS training for stakeholders. The training, held at the Development Support Centre in Ibadan, is a preparatory step for a nationwide survey designed to generate current and reliable behavioral and biological data on HIV among key populations. Aare Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, highlighted the survey as a critical public health initiative.

He stated it would provide evidence to understand emerging HIV trends, identify service gaps, and guide resource allocation. The IBBSS will gather information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, beliefs, risk behaviors, access to HIV prevention and care services, HIV status awareness, and treatment uptake among key populations, including Female Sex Workers, Men Who Have Sex with Men, and People Who Inject Drugs. Mr. Joseph Terry, representing the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, described the IBBSS as a national government survey with a protocol reviewed by the IBBSS Technical Working Group and approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.

He emphasized that the exercise must be treated as a national assignment, with strict adherence to the approved protocol and proper documentation. Mr.