Coalition of CSOs call on govts to champion advocacy for tuberculosis, HIV, Malaria
Advocacy
Ado-Ekiti, Dec.7, 2023(NAN) The coalition of Civil Society Organisation groups, Traid Health- Networks has called on various levels of governments, particularly Ekiti, to take-over the advocacy, control and mediation of tuberculosis, Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Malaria in the State.
Team leader of the network, and Chairman of ACOMIN in Ekiti, Mr Olu Ogunrotimi, said the Network had been proactive in providing basic health facilities, funds and campaigns, across all communities and Local Governments in the State.
He spoke at a media conference, December 7, in commemoration of the 18-month achievements of the Network, held at the Environmental Development and Family Health Organization (EDFHO) Office in Ado-Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Network, popularly known as ATM, include: the Association of Civil Society on Malaria Immunisation In Nigeria (ACOMIN), the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDs In Nigeria (NEPWAN) and the Tuberculosis (TB) Network.
Speaking at the Conference, the Chairman of ACOMIN, Olu Ogunrotimi, who is also the Team Leader of the Networks in Ekiti State, said that, the Network has been proactive in providing basic health facilities, funds and campaigns across all communities and Local Governments in the State.
He said, “The Community-Led Monitoring Initiative being implemented in Ekiti State has provided drugs and hospital equipment at Basic Health Centres (BHC) in Ijesa-Isu, Iroko, Ago Aduloju, Ilamuo and Ejiyan Areas of the State.
“We have also championed the rehabilitation of the road, leading to Basic Health Center in Ilamoye, employment of security and health workers in Oketoro Basic Health Center, Ilamoye and Ijesa Isu. We have also championed the ongoing parameter fencing in Oketoro Basic Health Center and the ongoing building in Oye Basic Health Center”, he said.
According to him, the Networks, (ACOMIN-8, NEPWHAN-8 and TBNetworks-2) projects, also cover a total of 90 Local Governments, 270 wards and 270 Health Facilities across 18 States in the Federation.
Speaking on the sensitization measures, he said that, efforts had been put in place to motivate public patronage of the primary health centres, asserting that, health centres without patronage would be tantamount to waste.
He noted that adequate funding was needed for the improvement of healthcare facility in the State.
Ogunrotimi said the fund, provided by Global Fund, only covers transportation, saying the highlighted projects were achieved, through communal contributions, thereby neccessitating urgent government’s contributions to the initiatives.
Also speaking at the Conference, the State Coordinator of the Society For Women and Aids in Africa Nigeria (SWAAN), Ekiti Chapter, Dr Mary Adeyanju, said, advocacy, championed by governments, would aid synergy, between the primary health centres, and the state health sectors.
” It has linked communities to health centres in the past, and has been able to serve as mediation between the units.
” The functionalities of the primary health centres are improved because of this Network project. Health workers now know that they are accountable to the people and government”, she said.
Also speaking, the Director of HIV Testing Service, Folami Dele Margret, who commended the Initiative, said one of its goals, was to reduce HIV/Aid, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the State, for the purpose of creating healthy and productive environment.