Group decries lack of HIV, Malaria testing kits in Gombe facilities
Chima Azubuike
A coalition of civil society organisations has decried the shortage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Malaria testing kits across most of the Primary Healthcare centres in Gombe State.
The coalition include Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition and Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Speaking during a media round table on Global Fund, National Agency for Control of AIDS, Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health, the Covid-19 Response Mechanism grant, the State Programme Officer of NEPWHAN Makka Dauda, said to end HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which has become epidemics, there was need to strengthen the formal and community health systems.
“There is shortage of HIV and Malaria testing kits across most of the primary health care centres,” Dauda said.
He disclosed that the Resilient System Strengthening for Health, is a community intervention that supports the development and reinforcement of informed, capable, coordinated and sustainable structures, and mechanisms.
According to Dauda, the findings are based on its interventions in 72 facilities in five local government areas, out of 11.
“There is need for state actors to provide adequate HIV and Malaria test kits, across these facilities,” he added.
Also speaking, Mohammed Sabo, NEPWHAN State Coordinator, urged government to show more commitment in tackling the raised challenges, he commended the collaborations existing between various organisations involved in system strengthening for health in the state.
On the lack of kits, Sabo said, “It comes at little or no cost from government when they are not available clients are made to stay away from health facilities or pay from their pocket.”
He added that the Coalition has taken it upon itself to carry out advocacies across organisations, and public spirited individuals towards augmenting the shortfall in order to stem the tide of transmission.
“This is not only for government’s consideration, it is also for our consideration. Three months ago we carried advocacy to Ashaka cement company they donated test kits to NEPWHAN which helped us in clients testing,” Sabo added.
On her part, ACOMIN State Coordinator, Hassana Maisanda, disclosed that in cases where the test kits are not too expensive some community-based organisations have procured the kits.
She said, “What matters most is that this project is concerned about making the communities where we work to collaborate with the facilities towards taking ownership of the hospitals that government has built. It is not everything that government can do atleast government has tried in bringing the facility into their locality.”
