The National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, NASCP, is to improve standardised procedures for prevention of Mother-To-Child transmission of HIV-PMTCT services in the country.
Director and National Coordinator of NASCP, Dr. Adebobola Bashorun stated this in Abuja during the 2024 assessment of retention in HIV care for PMTCT and children in Nigeria.
Dr. Bashorun noted that the retention rate of PMTCT and Children‘s HIV care was currently at 33% adding that the integration of HIV into broader health systems, improved data systems and enhanced human resources were crucial for effective HIV management.
On his part, the Consultant to NASCP and Programme Coordinator, Godpower Omoregie said assessment of retention in HIV care was carried out in 12 states across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country and expressed worry that the statistics were below expectation.
“In the North Central, we went to Kogi and Benue; in North West, Kano and Kaduna; in North East, Gombe and Adamawa; in South South, Delta and Akwa Ibom; in South East, Enugu and Anambra; then in South West, it was Ogun and Lagos states.”
“We are doing well when it comes to retention. However, if we decide to benchmark retention against the 95% threshold, we found out that the converse of about 40% are not retaining clients in care which is relatively low.”
Also, the Deputy Director, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Yewande Olaifa said the agency as a partner, would analyze the survey findings to identify cross-cutting issues and learn from the solutions implemented by different states.
“We will explore ways to maximize the use of limited resources to address the gaps identified in the survey.”
A Maternal and Newborn Health Specialist in UNICEF, Abuja, Dr. Victoria Isiramen emphasised the need to involve government at all levels and non governmental efforts for a harmonised approach to address retention in HIV care
