World AIDS Day 2014: DevComs call on Nigerian Government
By Eranga Isaac
Lagos - Nigerian government has been
called upon to invest in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
(PTMCT) services for a healthy nation. This call was made by Development
Communications (DevComs) Network and partners in a press release as the world
celebrates World AIDS Day 2014 and beyond. They opined that closing the gap in
PMTCT demands stakeholders' accountability
This observation according to DevComs, is premised on WHO recommendation in
the Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011-2015, which advised
countries to strengthen linkages between HIV and maternal, newborn and
child health services and address sexual and reproductive health and rights
issues by integrating HIV prevention, testing and counseling services into
sexual and reproductive health services.
The strategy document demands that,
"HIV services should be integrated within a package of core interventions
for maternal, newborn and child health; including high-quality antenatal,
prenatal and postnatal services; prevention, screening and care for malaria and
tuberculosis; syphilis screening and care; skilled birth attendance backed by
emergency obstetric care; and newborn and child care, infant feeding support,
immunization and family-centered nutritional care and support.
Accountability in PMTCT care and
prevention of maternal newborn and child deaths are essential to restore the
hope of care receivers in Nigeria. About 300 members of the Network of People
Living With HIV/AIDS recently shut the office of the National Agency for the
Control of AIDS (NACA), for dwindling access to ante-retroviral drugs and
withdrawal of financial support to HIV/AIDS by donor organisations.
It is also a fact that HIV is the
leading cause of deaths among women of reproductive age. According to a
statement released by National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for the
World AIDS Day 2014, 54% of pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries
did not receive an HIV test in 2013; and almost 60% of all new HIV infections
among young people aged 15–24 occurred among adolescent girls and young women globally.
The World Health Organisation says the
World AIDS Day 2014 is designed to close the gaps in HIV prevention and
treatment, owing to the fact that too many people still lack access to
comprehensive HIV treatment and prevention services. The World health governing
body states in its new release for this year's World AIDS day that
"Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with 24.7 million people
living with HIV in 2013 and accounts for almost 70% of the global total of new
HIV infections.
"There were approximately 35
million people living with HIV at the end of 2013 with 2.1 million people
becoming newly infected with HIV in 2013 globally."
In bridging the gap in HIV treatment
and prevention, Nigeria recently launched a National Operational Plan for the
period of 2015-2016, targeted at the Elimination of Mother to Child
Transmission of HIV in Nigeria. Speaking at the launch Professor John
Idoko, the Director General of NACA had explained that eliminating Mother to
Child Transmission of HIV has ripple effects on the Millennium Development
Goals, (MDGs) 3, 4 and 5.
“The national programme for the
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV started in 2001 with
actual services delivery taking off in six (6) tertiary institutions in 2002.
Since then the programme has been expanded to the primary and secondary health
facilities in order to bring the services closer to the communities. Achieving
the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) is inextricably
linked with and directly contributes to the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), especially MDG 3, (Gender Equality), MDG 4, (reduce child mortality)
and MDG 5 ( improve maternal health) and MDG 6 ( combat HIV/AIDS). This
positions EMTCT as an important part of the maternal and child health and the
overall development agenda” he said.
It should also be noted that,
Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) cannot be effective without
proper prevention of new infections and prevention of mother to child
transmission of HIV. The World Health Organisation in a July 2014
"consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care
for key populations" recommended a four-pronged approach to PMTCT. The
approaches include primary prevention of HIV infection among women of
childbearing age, preventing unintended pregnancies among women living with
HIV, preventing HIV transmission from women living with HIV to their infants,
and providing appropriate treatment, care, and support to mothers living with
HIV, their children and families.
Speaking about preventing HIV among
women of childbearing age and preventing unintended pregnancies among women
living with HIV, the Advocacy Advisor, Nigerian Reproductive Health Initiative
(NURHI), Mrs. Charity Ibeawuchi said correct and consistent use of male and
female condoms during vaginal or anal penetration can protect against the
spread of sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
She then charged the government on
speedy passage and implementation of the National Health Bill in order to
release resources for Reproductive Health and other health services and reduce
Nigeria's dependence on external donors and funders.
, we (DevComs) believe that achieving
complete Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) goes beyond
pronouncement. It entails actions and political will from health workers to the
national government. Adequate funding is required for effective implementation
of the operational plan and should be carried out in line with WHO standards and
guidelines that stipulate integration with MNCH. Nigerians can no longer wait
for promises made without fulfillment. The allocation of at least 15% of total
budget to fund health in Nigeria, as stipulated by the Abuja Declaration of
2001 will also go a long way to fast track the implementation of health
strategies developed in Nigeria.
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