NIGERIA – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has received contribution from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) to bolster tuberculosis (TB) control and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention efforts in Nigeria.
“These contributions will expand the impact of USAID’s current programs, implemented through local Nigerian organizations,” the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria said in an official statement.
In addition, the leading Nigerian philanthropic organization will provide critical inputs, valued at US$500,000, to the national TB and GBV responses.
“ASR Africa’s contribution will provide 11 loop-mediated isothermal amplification diagnostic machines, also known as TB-LAMPs, with laboratory reagents and consumables,” the embassy highlighted.
The embassy further said that the funding will facilitate the renovation of 10 Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy, commonly known as DOT centers, as well as approximately 1,200 dignity kits for survivors of gender-based violence across selected states in Nigeria.
According to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria, the TB-LAMP diagnostic machines will enable 11 facilities to effectively diagnose TB, which continues to be a challenge in under-resourced health facilities.
“All individuals diagnosed with these machines will be placed on treatment for TB at the TB DOT centers that will be renovated by ASR Africa,” the consulate announced.
The contribution of dignity kits will also strengthen services for survivors of gender-based violence, including medical and psycho-social services, at Sexual Assault Rescue Centers, also known as SARCs, that are supported through USAID’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.
Additionally, the end-to-end diagnosis to treatment partnership with USAID will provide additional capacity and expand ongoing efforts aimed at tackling tuberculosis and HIV across Nigeria.
“Each of ASR Africa’s contributions will amplify the impact of USAID’s development programming in Nigeria while demonstrating the opportunity for public-private partnerships to effectively address unmet development needs,” HIV/AIDS and TB Office Director USAID/Nigeria, Rachel Goldstein said.
Nigerian stakeholders explore path for sustaining HIV epidemic control
Meanwhile, Nigerian health stakeholders are jointly working together to review the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program accomplishments from the last five years with an aim of achieving and sustaining Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic control.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted federal and state ministries of health and HIV program implementing partners to chart a way forward for the coming five years in a bid to revolutionize the investment landscape in the HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria.
Throughout the newly launched program cycle, US CDC will continue to host programmatic review meetings with partners to ensure that high-quality HIV programs are sustained and that free, life-saving care is available to every Nigerian who needs it.
US CDC Country Director Dr. Mary Boyd lauded states and partners for their collaborative work in attaining quality care for every patient while accelerating treatment coverage in the country.
“The surge in the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) identified and beginning treatment in recent years has moved Nigeria closer to HIV epidemic control than ever before,” she observed.
She further said that as of June 2022, US CDC is supporting comprehensive HIV services for about 1.2 million PLHIV in Abia, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory.
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