Worried by dwindling
donor funds for the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT),
experts have urged the Federal Government to boost funding, political
commitment, health infrastructure and ensure adequate engagement of the private
health sector to achieve the goal.
According to them, lack
of political commitment, and funding at State and LGA levels, weak health
infrastructures as well as inadequate engagement of the private health sector
are some challenges against elimination of new HIV cases in children.
The experts spoke at the
opening of a three-day communication strategic review workshop by Journalists
Alliance for Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV (JAPiN) in
Calabar, Cross Rivers State, recently.
Decrying the country’s
dependence on foreign donors to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV,
one of the experts, Dr. Sunday Aboje, National Coordinator, National AIDS/STI
Control Programme (NASCAP), said that there is need for Federal Government to
take over the programme.
Dr Aboje, who was
represented by Assistant Chief Scientific Officer of the agency, Taiwo
Olakunle, also called for timely release of budget for AIDS control,
prevention, and treatment.
He said; “Prompt release
of 100 per cent budget for AIDS control, prevention, and treatment for the
relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would make a difference in
the lives of people living with the disease.”
He further attributed
over-reliance on foreign donors to be responsible for the lack of coordination
in the HIV Health Sector Response, saying this result in duplication of
efforts, parallel programme, among others.
Dr, Aboje said:
“Over-dependence on external donors is also responsible for lack of
coordination in the HIV Health Sector Response resulting in duplication of
efforts, parallel programme, wastage of resources with little or no impact on
the patients.
“Instead of Government to
dictate, guide and supervise donor agencies and implementing partners, the
reverse is the case. They operate with minimum regards to stipulated guidelines
or agreements with the Federal Government. In summary, ‘HIV Programme seems
hijacked by international donors agencies.”
Aboje stated that
currently, 380,000 children are HIV positive in the country, adding that
Nigeria is committed to the goal of eliminating new HIV infections among
children and keeping their mothers alive by 2020.
Aboje, however, stated
that Nigeria’s target on eliminating new HIV cases in children among other
things for 2018 was to ensure 50 per cent of HIV-exposed children have access
to HIV prophylaxis treatment and early infant diagnosis services.
In a related development,
Mrs. Kadiri Oluseyi, Executive Director, Centre for Positive Health Organisation,
Lagos State under the platform of Abidjan – Lagos – Corridor, tasked government
to increase funding for child HIV elimination programmes.
Oluseyi called on
government to support People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and partners working on HIV awareness in line with the
global campaign for safer motherhood and HIV-free babies.
According to her, support
from the government through increased funding and access to anti-retroviral
(ARV) drugs will help to ameliorate the challenges of PLWHA, especially
pregnant mothers and help in actualising the eMTCT of HIV.
Oluseyi spoke when
members of Journalists Alliance for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission
of HIV in Nigeria (JAPiN), Lagos state Chapter made the special investigative
visit to the office of Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation, in Badagry General
Hospital, Lagos, recently.
Oluseyi said: “Government
should support the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and partners working in the area of HIV, support groups
with funds.”
