The Ogun State Government has assured residents that the ongoing treatment, care, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS will not be disrupted despite the recent suspension of United States funding for public health programmes.
Following the United States’ announcement of a 90-day suspension of funding support for initiatives, including the HIV/AIDS programme under United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said on Tuesday that the state government had put proactive measures in place to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, adding that both the federal and state governments were committed to preventing any gaps in care.
‘To mitigate the impact of the funding halt, the state government has taken steps to ensure HIV test kits remain readily available across hospitals and primary healthcare centres, allowing citizens continued access to free HIV testing’, she said.
She added that treatment facilities across the state would remain open to support drug pick-up and initiate antiretroviral therapy for newly diagnosed patients at all 43 ART sites.
The commissioner further assured all that Early Infant Diagnosis tests would continue at two designated m-PIMA laboratories located at Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital and General Hospital, Owode.
‘All eligible clients requiring viral load testing will also have their blood samples collected, with logistics in place to transport samples for necessary analysis’, Coker said.
According to her, existing mentor mothers will be engaged alongside government healthcare workers to facilitate uninterrupted HIV services, while the state Ministry of Health will coordinate activities across ART sites.
‘The state government has established feedback mechanisms for healthcare workers, ensuring weekly assessments and prompt resolution of any challenges during this period’, she added.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and support the government’s efforts in sustaining HIV/AIDS treatment and care services.
‘We also appeal to our healthcare providers to support the integration of HIV treatment into the state’s general health services’, she said.
Coker revealed that as of November last year, about 30,350 people were receiving HIV/AIDS treatment in the state, with children accounting for two per cent of the figure.
