Health
THE federal ministry of health hosts the National Dialogue on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, PMTCT, on Tuesday, May 4, in Abuja.
According to a statement by the ministry, this is one of the strategies aimed at achieving the goal of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
It added that the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Gambo Gumel Aliyu Chairman, commissioners’ for Health Forum and commissioner of health, Cross River State, Betta Edu will be in attendance.
Others expected at the national dialogue are the Directors of Public Health, Director, Department of Family Health, NPHCDA, Head of Community Services, NPHCDA, Country Representatives of UN Agencies and Development Partners: UNAIDS, WHO, UNICE, UNFPA, UNODC, USAID, CDC, DoD, Programme Director FHI360 GF, Country Directors of Clinton Health Access Initiative, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management, Chairman State AIDS Programme Coordinator and Chairman of Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) Task Team.
The statement noted that Nigeria still accounts for a significant contribution to all the new vertically transmitted HIV infections among the 23 focus countries of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS according to UNAIDS. The Government of Nigeria has over the years prioritized the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, as a key HIV response. Thus, ensuring that the vertical transmission from mother to child is disrupted with resultant effect to decrease new infections and have a generation free of HIV in the country.
It explained that some of the factors contributing to unmet needs of PMTCT in Nigeria include: low patronage of health care facilities for ante-natal care, ANC; shortage of rapid test kits; inadequately skilled health workers especially at the primary and secondary health facility levels; and high staff attrition rate amongst others.
“Hence, one of the strategies to sustain the commitment of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is to facilitate a National Dialogue with all key stakeholders. The dialogue will focus on reviewing efforts – political, programmatic, and technical – as follows:
“Discussion on improving the declining performance on the PMTCT cascade in all states in Nigeria
“Discussion on improving early infant diagnosis (EID) services,” it added.
– MAY 03, 2021 @ 09:44 GMT
Tags: Health ministry hosts National Dialogue on PMTCT in Abuja
