By Prosper Okoye
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the government to enhance the provision of services related to HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria (ATM), and COVID-19 at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Nigeria. The appeal was made by CSOs working jointly in these areas, including the Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis (TB Network), the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), and the Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN), during an advocacy visit to the Primary Health Care Board in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Theresa Laraba Jatau, TB Network Grant and Programme Manager, called for increased resources to address the challenges posed by these diseases, which remain significant public health threats.
Jatau explained that the advocacy initiative stemmed from identified needs during the implementation of the Global Fund’s C19RM grant across 21 states in Nigeria. The project, which has been ongoing for about three years, was initiated to address ATM and COVID-19-related issues, including gender-based violence that has emerged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She pointed out that during the second quarter of implementation, issues such as inadequate staffing in some facilities and misconceptions about ATM and COVID-19 negatively affected the uptake of services at some PHCs. This prompted the advocacy visit to the Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) unit to collaborate with CSOs in providing accurate information to the public and ensuring access to quality ATM and COVID-19 services.
“The replacement of manpower due to the retirement of health workers, as well as the training and mentoring of primary healthcare staff, is urgently needed,” Jatau said.
“Through our regular advocacy efforts to stakeholders and those in positions of authority at various levels, we have seen some improvements. For instance, some primary healthcare centres were rebuilt, and drugs, along with other essentials, were donated by community members. We have encouraged stakeholders to take ownership of these health centres and improve them for their people,” she added.
Jatau further highlighted the challenges posed by government bureaucracy and the reluctance to address long-standing issues, which has left some communities without access to ATM and COVID-19 services at PHCs. However, she assured that advocacy efforts would continue and be sustained even after the grant ends, as community members have been trained to maintain the implementation.
Also speaking, Mrs Elizabeth Iyabo, Head of the ACSM unit of the Primary Health Care Board, who received the CSOs, said efforts are underway to address the manpower shortages at PHCs and assured that more would be done to tackle the other issues raised. She also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to working with the ATM Network to ensure the proper dissemination of accurate information. Iyabo lamented that in areas where health services, such as COVID-19 vaccinations, were available, some community members were either unwilling to participate or rejected the vaccines due to misinformation.
“The advocacy visit is important because we need to exchange ideas and speak with one voice. When people do not trust health workers, we cannot succeed in any implementation. We welcome collaborations as we work together for our shared development,” Iyabo said.
TB Network Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Henry Omah, urged the public to always seek accurate health information from primary healthcare centres regarding ATM and COVID-19 services, emphasising that they are reliable and accessible.
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