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Nigeria: Government adopts strategy to check for mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Nigeria: Government adopts strategy to check for mother-to-child transmission of HIV

 


The federal government says it has decided to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) by paying more attention to the eight most burdensome states.

Part of the strategy to achieve this was to strengthen the coordination between PMTCT services and maternal and child health programs, he said.

Health Minister Dr. Osagi Ehanile, who spoke at World AIDS Day this year, said the scope of HIV treatment has improved despite the confusion caused by COVID-19.

He said the World AIDS Day memorial provided “an opportunity to look back on where we stand today and remind us of where we want to be in the fight against HIV / AIDS.”

He said the number of ART patients in Nigeria was 1,228,100, 150,000 more than in June last year.

“There is no doubt that we need to raise awareness about HIV, promote the rights of people to live with HIV, and, importantly, ensure access to life-saving HIV drugs for them.

“This year was unique due to our health system and new challenges to our lives brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but nevertheless ended the AIDS epidemic in Nigeria. I’m glad I’m on track to get it done. “”

In addition, Ehanire said certain policy changes were rapidly adopted to limit disruption of access to HIV treatment.

For example, several months of dispensing ARV would provide patients with a drug that lasts up to three months, he said.

“While progress in“ prevention of mother-to-child transmission ”is still difficult, we are firmly committed to the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

“Through the new impetus for PMTCT optimization, we are paying more and more attention to the eight most burdensome states.

“We are strengthening the collaboration between PMTCT services and maternal and child health programs, and, very importantly, we are increasing our investment in ensuring the availability of HIV tests, including HIV self-test kits.” He said.

Meanwhile, APIN Public Health Initiatives, a major non-governmental organization, said it was involved in implementing projects on HIV / AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the states of Benue, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Plateau. I did.

This group specializes in design and implementation projects to ease the burden of Nigerian illness and public health challenges.