The Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria (CCCRN) has begun partnership with the Imo State Government through the provision of no fewer than 75 health facilities to provide HIV services.
The donation was to assist the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (IMO SACA) fight the scourge. The centre also made another donation of other medical facilities worth over N60 million to promote healthcare delivery in the state.
At a recent hand-over meeting in Owerri, the Regional Director of the Centre, Dr. Jude Ilozumba said the organisation had been working in the state since the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government.
The body, which is a non-governmental organisation, is funded by the government of the United States of America (USA) and its target was to provide anti-retroviral therapy, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, care for the orphans and vulnerable children, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, in addition to training of medical personnel, laboratory support, service delivery as well as supportive supervision to health facilities. Ilozumba stated that the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had earlier hinted the government of Nigeria that there would be re-structuring of funding for HIV programme. He added that from October 2016 more funds would be redirected to 32 priority local government areas.
He disclosed that the measure was taken by the US Government with the view to assisting the endemic sites by withdrawing funding from areas where HIV prevalence was low. Ilozumba however, explained that CCCRN was not shutting down completely as about 79 health facilities would be supported after April 2016.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive of CCCRN, Dr. Ayodotun Olutola disclosed that the organisation had supported 224 health facilities in the state ranging from government to privately owned ones. Breakdowns of the 224 supported facilities include 14 comprehensive anti-retroviral therapy (ART) facilities, 208 PMTCT and two HCT sites.
He revealed that through these health facilities 8,244 adults and children are currently on ART, while 5,740 pregnant women have received an Anti-retroviral Vaccine (ARV) and prophylaxis for PMTCT between October 2014 and July 2015.
Receiving the items during the unveiling ceremony, the Supervising Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Lillian Asuzu assured stakeholders of the state government’s readiness to take up full responsibility of the HIV site facilities in the state.
Asuzu, who was represented by the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Emukah, said the state had earlier set up transition committee to monitor HIV programme in the state although the report of the committee expressed optimism that the state was combat-ready to face the challenge.
By: Amby Uneze
This Day News
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