The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a National Operational plan for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV (2017-2018), aimed at halting the spread of the scourge by 2030.
Dr. Deborah Odoh, the Assistant Director, HIV/AIDS Division of the ministry, made this known at the National Conference on HIV Prevention in Abuja on Wednesday.
Odoh said the operational plan had incorporated the roles of the private sector and the community in the bid to end the Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission of HIV.
She added that the plan had also addressed the provision of Anti-Retro Viral drugs for HIV positive pregnant women and ensured that unintended/unplanned pregnancies were prevented among positive women.
She explained that since 2002 when the PMTCT programme begun, Nigeria had been one of the first to adopt each revision of guidelines recommended by World Health Organisation.
She said government had strengthened the health system, provided essential commodities like test kits and ARVs, capacity building for health providers and improved the health-seeking behaviour of Nigerians.
According to Odoh, only about 30 per cent of HIV positive women are accessing ARVs for PMTCT despite efforts of government and partners.
She, however, added that “we wanted to use available resources to reach more pregnant women with the WHO recommended “Option B” alternative”.
She noted that providing life-long ARVs was a responsibility that must not be taken lightly, as work on uninterrupted drug supply, strengthening of health systems and capacity building for health providers was areas that must be sustained.
The assistant director said the ministry was committed to full implementation of the Task Shifting/Task Sharing policy for Maternal and Newborn Health Care.
Odoh said: “We are intensifying efforts to source funds to bridge the gap created by the dwindling resources and support for PMTCT services in Nigeria.
“Advocacy to governors, lawmakers, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Budget and Planning is being carried out by the ministers of health to ensure that key activities are captured in the 2017 budget.”
Health is not just physical health, but also mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. An important part of the healing process for me is to be active in HIV/AIDS education, support and advocacy. I volunteer in a number of HIV/AIDS organizations, and in particular Positive Women, because the impact of HIV /AIDS on women is very different than from men. As once a positive person, I will forever be grateful to God Almighty and Doctor lucky to reach me when i thought it is all over, Today am happy with my family living free after the medical doctor have confirmed my HIV status Negative, I have never in my life believed that HIV could be cured by any herbal medicine, I want to make sure that HIV never happens to anyone else. We can't prevent HIV by punishment, by stigma and discrimination. It's only through building a safe, supportive and caring environment, that positive people still have hope and they should contact Dr lucky with this email: homeofnaturalremedy@gmail.com so they can once again be visible in our community, to educate and advocate, to take better care of ourselves and our families. We're someone's daughter, partner, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt. When we have HIV, it impacts on our families too. kindly contact him today and leave carefree, on whatsapp +2349050606649 Goodluck. you can also reach me on my mail: homeofnaturalremedy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHealth is not just physical health, but also mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. An important part of the healing process for me is to be active in HIV/AIDS education, support and advocacy. I volunteer in a number of HIV/AIDS organizations, and in particular Positive Women, because the impact of HIV /AIDS on women is very different than from men. As once a positive person, I will forever be grateful to God Almighty and Doctor lucky to reach me when i thought it is all over, Today am happy with my family living free after the medical doctor have confirmed my HIV status Negative, I have never in my life believed that HIV could be cured by any herbal medicine, I want to make sure that HIV never happens to anyone else. We can't prevent HIV by punishment, by stigma and discrimination. It's only through building a safe, supportive and caring environment, that positive people still have hope and they should contact Dr lucky with this email: homeofnaturalremedy@gmail.com so they can once again be visible in our community, to educate and advocate, to take better care of ourselves and our families. We're someone's daughter, partner, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt. When we have HIV, it impacts on our families too. kindly contact him today and leave carefree, on whatsapp +2349050606649 Goodluck. you can also reach me on my mail: homeofnaturalremedy@gmail.com .............
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