Nigeria steps up battle against HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis with New Working Group
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has expanded its Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group (E-PMTCT-TWG) to include experts in malaria, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, strengthening the country’s response to these health challenges
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni while inaugurating the TWG at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, stated that the move was aimed at shifting from the single disease focused approach to a more collaborative and integrated approach, as Nigeria makes progress towards achieving epidemic control of HIV.
She stated further that the expansion aligns with the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) being implemented through the Sector Wide Approach SWAp.
According to her, to achieve government’s objective in this direction, membership of the Technical Working Group were carefully selected by the Ministry to achieve a successful elimination of vertical transmission.
“Over the past decade, Nigeria has made significant improvements in reducing the vertical transmission of HIV. Yet, parallel efforts against syphilis, hepatitis B, and malaria in pregnancy cannot be over-emphasized.
“This has led to missed opportunities for comprehensive maternal and child services. Therefore, this ExpandeÉ— TWG embodies our resolve to harmonize these critical programmes into one coordinated, data-driven response, ensuring every pregnant woman benefits from integrated care at every contact point”; she stressed
The Permanent Secretary commended the First Lady’s “Free to Shine” maternal health campaign for its impactful awareness-raising efforts, community mobilization, and engagement of local leaders, traditional institutions, as well as the media in promoting maternal and child health
Highlighting the initiative’s progress, the Permanent Secretary noted that the Ministry has successfully distributed HIV/Syphilis dual test kits to all states, bolstering efforts to combat HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B transmission
“Through this effort, we have increased the screening of pregnant women for syphilis by over 60% Automated Reagin Test (ART).
“The planned introduction of free hepatitis B testing, free treatment and care for the positive pregnant women will improve identification, as well as reduce rate of transmission of Hepatitis B from mother to their unborn children”; Daju Kachollom added.
She charged the 55-member Expanded PMTCT-TWG to collaborate with stakeholders and international partners, tasking them to provide regular progress updates, identify challenges, and offer recommendations for improvement where necessary
Earlier, Dr. Paul Ntadom, Director of the Public Health Department and Chairman of the PMTCT-TWG, represented by the Director of Port Health Division, praised the National HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) for its leadership in establishing the platform
