The Programme Officer for the Global Fund/National Agency for the Control of AIDS/Resilient Sustainable System for Health/COVID-19 Response Mechanism Project, Mrs. Jumoke Ogunyemi-Abereowo, has identified the shortage of healthcare workers, the non-availability of drugs, and the lack of test kits in government hospitals as some of the key challenges hindering the treatment of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria in Ondo State.
Ogunyemi-Abereowo made this disclosure in Akure, the state capital, during a one-day roundtable media meeting aimed at showcasing the progress made so far in the implementation of the Global Fund/National Agency for the Control of AIDS/Resilient Sustainable System for Health/COVID-19 Response Mechanism Project in Ondo State.
She urged the state government to ensure the availability of personnel, drugs, and test kits in hospitals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and TB, stressing that making these essential resources accessible in government hospitals is critical to combating these diseases.
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According to Ogunyemi-Abereowo, the consistent supply of drugs and other commodities to state-owned hospitals, as well as the recruitment and proper deployment of more healthcare workers to these facilities, are crucial steps in addressing the health challenges in the state.
She also called on residents of Ondo State to properly maintain and care for the government-provided infrastructure in their localities.
“We must ensure that all government facilities are in good condition, and we should all play our part in ensuring optimal service delivery by service providers to the community,” she stated.
The objectives of the project, she explained, include strengthening Nigeria’s health systems to improve health outcomes and ensure optimal service delivery across health facilities in the state.
The project also aims to strengthen governance, coordination, and data use across ATM services at all levels, while supporting states through engagement with State and Local Government Areas (LGAs) to build capacity for managing health programs.
The initiative seeks to address gaps in health systems and infrastructure through strategic interventions to ensure effective and efficient outcomes.
Ogunyemi-Abereowo further emphasized the importance of residents utilizing government-provided facilities properly, rather than destroying them.
Speaking about the achievements across health facilities in the state, the State Coordinator of the Civil Society on Malaria Elimination, Immunisation, and Nutrition Network in Nigeria (ACOMIN), Adeyemi Junaid, said that the GF/NACA/RSSH/C19RM project has laid a strong foundation for integrating the three main disease programs—HIV, TB, and Malaria.
He highlighted the importance of integrating these programs for the sustainability of the project’s achievements.
“Through result-based advocacy, commitments have been received from stakeholders and philanthropists, and successes have been achieved at the facilities.
We are working in collaboration with the government and the people, and our intervention focuses on monitoring and strengthening relationships to close gaps in the healthcare system,” Junaid said.
“We urge the people of Ondo State to properly utilize the government facilities in their communities.”
The Ondo State Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Adesina Aladelusi, also spoke at the media roundtable, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
“Our role is to strengthen the community. We may not have the funds like the government, but we work to mobilize resources and seek donations to support our cause,” he said.
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