The Ebonyi State Aids Coordinator, Mr. Clement Ogodo, has called for government funding of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIS) to ensure the sustainability of free treatment for patients if donor partners eventually withdraw their financial support.
Ogodo made the appeal during the Joint State Annual Review Meeting held at Clevero Hotel, Abakaliki on Wednesday.
He warned that patients would be pushed back to square one due to the high cost of antiretroviral drugs if external support is withdrawn, stressing the need for proactive measures to safeguard the progress already recorded in the fight against Humane Immune Deficiency Virus.
Highlighting the roles of donor partners, Ogodo noted that they have supported the state through the training of health workers, provision of test kits, supply of antiretroviral drugs, and payment of ad-hoc staff.
He insisted that adequate government funding would help avoid adverse consequences when partners finally pull out.
“The essence of this training is to review what has been done, what is currently being done, and what should be done going forward,” Ogodo explained.
In their contributions, the Chief Executive of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. Chidi Ehiem, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ovuoba Emeka Philip, and a representative of the State Health Insurance Agency, Mr. Nweke Sampson, commended Ogodo for taking proactive steps to prevent future challenges.
Read also:
- Delta leads in HIV response as U.S. CDC applauds state’s health ownership drive
- WHO approves twice-a-year jab to combat HIV/AIDS scourge
- NACA announces seventh national council on AIDS in Lagos to tackle Nigeria’s HIV response
They recalled the difficulties faced by Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome and tuberculosis patients in the past ranging from vulnerability to multiple illnesses to avoidable deaths and expressed optimism that the solutions discussed would sustain progress even if donor support dwindles. They described the meeting as a wake-up call.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Mfon Williamson, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Lady Rose Ibe, advised the health sector team to always submit well detailed proposals to the Governor for approval in order to access budgetary allocations,hence, urged synergy among officers to avoid internal conflict.
On their parts, the representatives of the National Aids/STI Control Program, Dr. Rita Akalazu; ECEWS, Dr. Onyeka Osabiku; NEPWHAN, Mrs. Nwamadu Benedicta; and the Technical Lead for CARITAS Nigeria, Dr. Chidimma Okoye, applauded the new approach.
They stressed the need for stakeholder collaboration and proper documentation to ensure continuity when global donor support eventually ceased.
