Copyright tribuneonlineng
THE Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYOSACA) is enhancing its cooperation with the Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), its implementing partners, and multisectoral organisations to further the state’s HIV response. Speaking at the LACA-SACA and other stakeholders’ state monthly monitoring and evaluation meeting at the agency, Board Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gbola Adetunji, said while progress has been made, there are emerging gaps around service integration, sustainability, data quality, community ownership and resource optimisation that require continued attention. Dr Adetunji said, Oyo State has continued to record notable improvements in HIV testing services, treatment coverage, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), community mobilisation and linkage to care through collective efforts. He announced Governor Seyi Makinde’s approval for the procurement of HIV test kits and consumables to further strengthen uninterrupted service delivery across the state, a step towards closing existing gaps and ensuring that no client in need of testing or follow-up services is denied care. Adetunji said the role of LACA managers was strategic for the state’s HIV sustainability plan and urged them to intensify their supportive supervision, strengthen their referral pathways and ensure that their reports reflect actual delivery outcomes. “Today’s engagement is therefore focused on deepening partnerships and improving accountability for results. We must continue to work as one unified structure to ensure that our M&E systems remain reliable and that interventions reach those who need them most, especially at the grassroots,” he said. In a statement on behalf of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Serifat Ibikunle, the State’s HIV/AIDS programme coordinator, pledged the ministry’s support for current and upcoming HIV intervention throughout the state in order to meet USAID’s 95-95-95 objectives. The HIV desk officer Mrs Victoria Popoola, urged that the LACA managers step up efforts to ensure no HIV-positive pregnant woman in their community is stigmatized and to access PMTCT services. Also, Oyo Strategic Information lead at the APIN Public Health Initiative, Mrs Juliabah Dada, stated that the APIN Health Initiative was testing for HIV across the local governments and supporting 52 facilities for comprehensive HIV care as well as providing support. Mrs Dada said in its new administrative calendar year, APIN Public Health Initiative intends to also strengthen data collection and M&E activities in its HIV interventions. Coordinating director of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr Wale Falana, told the LACA managers to improve on data gathering and enrolment on Antiretroviral Therapy to prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother to child. According to him, “The major function of the LACA is actually containing HIV. So, we should have enough data to assist us to know the prevalence of HIV in the state. With things that have been put in place by the government, this will assist us to know the exact HIV prevalence.”
