A Civil Society Organisation on Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition has raised alarm over the growing number of people living with HIV in Delta State, saying more than 51,000 residents are currently affected.
The group called on the Federal Government, Delta State Government, development partners, corporate organisations and philanthropists to support efforts to expand access to HIV testing, treatment and other essential healthcare services across the state.
The Delta State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor Gregory Sifo, made the appeal during an advocacy visit to the Ikejani-Enyi of Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor, in Oshimili North Local Government Area, where he stressed the need for stronger collaboration to curb the spread of the virus.
Sifo said available statistics showed that Benue State has the highest number of people living with HIV in Nigeria, while Delta has over 51,000 cases, describing the situation as a serious public health challenge.
He explained that the visit followed an earlier engagement with the community, during which the organisation sought support to provide the Ogbeobi Health Centre with HIV test kits and other essential medical supplies.
According to him, making HIV testing more accessible would encourage early diagnosis, improve treatment and help reduce the spread of the virus.
Sifo also disclosed that ACOMIN planned to meet with the Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area, Innocent Esewezie, to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
He commended the council chairman for upgrading the Obodogba Primary Healthcare Centre into a cottage hospital, describing it as a significant step towards improving access to quality healthcare.
Responding, the Ikejani-Enyi of Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor, pledged to mobilise support from prominent indigenes of the community, especially healthcare professionals in the diaspora, to provide HIV test kits and other medical supplies.
He also promised to brief the local government chairman about ACOMIN’s planned advocacy visit and praised the organisation for its efforts to improve healthcare through community engagement.
During a separate advocacy visit to the Delta State Local Government Service Commission in Asaba, Sifo urged the government to recruit more nurses and other healthcare workers to address the shortage of personnel in primary healthcare centres.
He said many health facilities were overstretched because of inadequate staffing, leaving the available workers with heavy workloads.
Responding, the Director of Nursing Services at the commission, Mrs Patricia Enagoma, said the commission had already requested the Delta State Government to employ more nurses and healthcare workers.
She acknowledged the shortage of personnel in many primary healthcare centres and urged local government councils to complement the state’s efforts by recruiting additional health workers.
ACOMIN said increasing access to HIV testing, improving healthcare facilities and employing more frontline health workers are key to reducing the burden of HIV and strengthening primary healthcare services across Delta State.
