Security challenges, manpower delaying HIV intervention in Kaduna State – UNICEF consultant
Intervention
By Maharazu Ahmed
Zaria (Kaduna State) Aug. 9, 2018 (NAN) A Consultant with UNICEF, Hadiza Mohammed, on Thursday identified security challenges and inadequate quality manpower as delaying the campaign against HIV among Adolescents and Young Persons in Kaduna State.
Mohammed, who made the disclosure on Thursday in Zaria at a meeting with media executives in Kaduna State, said that the problems were partly responsible for the low outreach in the seven local government areas UNICEF is supporting the programme.
“Inadequate quality human resources to support implementation of the program at state level delays implementation and rate of planned activities implementation
“Occasional suspension or disruption of planned AYP community activities and health facility services due to security challenges in some LGAs notably Birnin Gwari, Chikun and Igabi have also been recorded,’’ she said.
She recommended that HIV Specialists and UNICEF should advocate for replacement of key program staff to drive the process, while UNICEF should support the state AIDS Control Agency to provide means of identification such as ID cards or branded reflective jackets to the volunteers
The expert also called for “remote program implementation in security challenged areas’’ to enhance coverage of the affected areas.
She however said that in spite of the problems, the state with a projected 2018 population of 8,399, 296 people, has 2.2 percent HIV prevalence and an estimated 18,800 adolescents are living with HIV as at 2016.
“ Kaduna is one of the UNICEF supported states piloting elimination of Mother to Child Transmission and adolescent HIV intervention in Nigeria.
“PMTCT coverage had steadily risen from 16% in 2012 to 61% in 2017. The target is to achieve 90% coverage by 2020,’’ she added.
Mohammed disclosed that plan is in the pipeline in 2019 to extend the campaign on Preventing Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and among Adolescents and Young Persons to more local government areas of Kaduna State.
She disclosed that the new focus would be on index case testing, strengthening private sector inclusion in PMTCT and AYP service delivery, and supporting state capacity and system development efforts.
“UNICEF will support scale up of PMTCT services to other identified LGAs, advocacy for the state to develop and implement equity focused, gender sensitive and AYP inclusive health interventions
“It will also conduct midterm and annual review of PMTCT and AYP plans, develop the 2018-2019 AYP plans, and strengthen demand creation.’’(NAN)
MZA