Skip to main content

FG launches first national HIV improvement projects

Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole

Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, will on Oct. 4, launch the first National HIV quality improvement projects in Abuja.

Mr Dennis Mordi, the Communication Manager, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the project aims at improving the diagnosis of HIV in babies and that both adults and babies who tested positive are promptly placed on treatment.

Mordi stated that the initiative would institutionalise structured process of using data, collected at health facilities, to facilitate informed decision-making at the national level for improved service delivery.

“A standard operating procedure (SOP) to guide the implementation of the projects, will be unveiled during the meeting,” he stated.

The statement quoted Mrs Chinenye Ugorji, the Project Director of the Nigerian Alliance for Health Systems Strengthening (NAHSS), as saying that the SOP “will increase quick identification of service delivery gaps”.

Ugorji noted that the initiatives would explore and improve early infant diagnosis and initiate antiretroviral therapy among infants and adults exposed to HIV.

She also said that the SOP was developed by the Federal Ministry of Health with technical assistance from the University of Maryland, U.S.

It is also being implemented in collaboration with other U.S. Government-funded implementing partners.

“NAHSS is being implemented by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with a grant provided by the University of Maryland.

“The centre is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health to develop the NigeriaQual Programme,’’ she was quoted as saying.

Ugorji added that states and health facilities committed to the implementation of the National Quality Management Programme (NigeriaQual) would be given award during the launching.

“The award is the first of its kind and showcases the birth of a national reward system for recognising dedication to the delivery of high quality health services.

“States to be recognised for the award would be chosen based on their exemplary leadership and effective monitoring of health activities and high-level coordination of stakeholders in the HIV programme.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...