By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), has maintained that the RSSH component of the Global Fund (GF) implementation would contribute to making foundational changes by strengthening the health system in Nigeria through targeted interventions that supported the Federal Government to set policies, strategies and standards as well as plan, monitor, and review progress against those standards.
The Delta State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor Greg Sifo, noted this at the group’s Media Brief for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) State Media Meeting to showcase their success stories, held at the Orchid Hotels Asaba, on Wednesday, 23 November, 2022.
Pastor Sifo, who disclosed that as part of national efforts to address the challenges in Nigeria, ACOMIN alongside Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and Tuberculosis Network had been engaged by National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) under the ongoing GF COVID-19 RM/RSSH-CSS Grant to implement the Civil Society Component, added that good governance and planning reforms that aligned with national policies, to drive home sustainable improvement to maximize impact on ATM and other diseases would also be strengthened.
He said the implementation of the grant has started in 18 GF supported States namely Ogun, Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, FCT, Edo, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Ondo and Oyo. That the project covers 5 Local Government Areas in each State. And that in Delta, Oshimili North and South, Udu, Uvwie and Warri South LGAs were selected.
Sifo also stated that the C19RM Component of the grant was aimed at supporting the efforts at preventing, treating and strengthening system on COVID-19 containment as well as preparedness for future pandemics.
“It seeks to address gaps in the systems and infrastructures through strategic interventions so as to ensure efficient and effective health outcomes.
“It will also integrate the responses of health systems, communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to COVID-19, such that all will contribute their respective quota in achieving the desired results across the States of implantation”. The Delta State Chairman of ACOMIN posited.
Sifo revealed that the C19RM/RSSH grant is geared towards the priority interventions of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and post violence care, respond to human rights and gender related barriers to services, Community Led Monitoring and advocacy among others.
He said gaps identified and challenges encountered during implementation were mainly shortage of health personnel at Primary Health Cares in the State, lack of effective water supply, inadequate hospital equipment among other essentials.
The State Chairman of ACOMIN said despite the challenges, the group has recorded impressive successes in Okpanam, Ibusa, Illah and Umuagu PHCs in Oshimili North and South, Ugborikoko and Ohorhe PHCs in Uvwie, Eboh and Pessu PHCs in Warri South.
While calling on Government at all levels and relevant stakeholders to support CBOs in implementing the aforementioned projects in the State towards improving outcomes, Pastor Greg Sifo, passionately appealed to the Mass Media to partner ACOMIN to propagate the interventions as they progress by amplifying the need for increased support and funding for ATM interventions by Government and stakeholders.