The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has received a delegation from The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS) to explore areas of collaboration aimed at tackling stigma, discrimination and rights violations affecting people living with HIV in Lagos State.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the LSACA office, focused on TIERS’ “Tackling Multilayer Stigma for People Living with HIV” project, scheduled to run from October to May. The initiative is designed to strengthen awareness of HIV-related rights and improve access to justice for people who face discrimination because of their HIV status.
Leading the TIERS delegation, Mrs. Chidimma Ike said the project would engage employers, trade unions and other stakeholders on the provisions of the HIV and AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014. She explained that particular attention would be given to workplace discrimination, including unlawful dismissal or unfavourable treatment based on an individual’s HIV status.
Ike added that the initiative would promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and provide legal representation for eligible petitioners experiencing HIV-related discrimination in workplaces, places of worship and other settings. She noted that the project would also address cases involving gender-based violence and provide logistical support, including transportation, to enable eligible petitioners to participate in court proceedings and ADR processes.
She identified delays in judicial proceedings, limited capacity to handle HIV- and gender-based violence-related cases through ADR, and inadequate awareness among employers and human resource personnel as some of the major barriers to accessing justice. Ike also expressed concern over discriminatory practices linked to health screening requirements in some workplaces and among food handlers, noting that poor understanding of relevant laws and policies could result in inappropriate employment decisions.
Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, represented by the Deputy Director, Projects, Dr. Omolola Sule, welcomed the proposed partnership and stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the social and structural barriers affecting the HIV response. Sule said protecting the rights of people living with HIV was critical to ensuring that they could access prevention, testing, treatment, care and support services without fear of stigma or discrimination. She reaffirmed LSACA’s commitment to strengthening referral mechanisms, rights protection and stakeholder collaboration as part of efforts to reduce multilayer stigma and contribute to ending AIDS by 2030.
