Anambra First Lady Advocates Early Testing To Prevent Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission

0

AWKA – The First Lady of Anambra State,  Dr Nonye Soludo, has said that early testing, prompt treatment and proper follow-up during pregnancy can prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Mrs Soludo stated this on Tuesday in Awka at a one-day high-level stakeholders’ meeting on the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Syphilis.

The meeting had the theme: “Synergizing Efforts Towards Triple Elimination: Strengthening Investment, Innovation and Collaboration to End HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Syphilis in Anambra State”.

It was organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Trinity Healthcare Foundation and other partners.

She said early testing and treatment would also avert life long health complications for mothers and their babies.

She called for increased investment and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis-B and Syphilis in Anambra.

Such investment and collaboration, she emphasized remain critical to protecting families and securing the future of children in the state.

Soludo said her Healthy Living Initiative prioritises preventive healthcare, insisting that investing in disease prevention is more effective and less expensive than treating illnesses after they occur.

She commended the state government for strengthening maternal and child healthcare services through the ongoing free antenatal care programme in public health facilities.

“Thousands of pregnant women are currently benefiting from essential ante- natal services, including screening and preventive interventions aimed at eliminating the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis-B and Syphilis from mother to child.

“Achieving the Triple Elimination Agenda will require the active participation of healthcare workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners and families.

“Therefore, i urge community and religious leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and encourage early antenatal attendance as well as combat stigma associated with the diseases.

“I believe that the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis is achievable, affordable and necessary if stakeholders renew their commitment,” she said.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, had earlier in his remarks said that despite significant progress made in HIV testing and prevention, the state’s disease burden underscored the need for intensified efforts to identify undiagnosed cases.

He said there was also a need to strengthen linkage of affected persons to treatment and sustain positive health outcomes across the state.

” The state’s free antenatal care programme provided an effective platform for integrating screening, prevention and treatment services for HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis,”he said.

In his remarks, World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr Bonos Mohammed, said the triple elimination initiative required strong political commitment and sustained collaboration.

Mohammed assured stakeholders of WHO’s continued support through strategic guidance and advocacy toward achieving the initiative’s objectives.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator and Director of NASCP, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, represented by Dr Chioma Ukanwa, urged stakeholders to develop actionable plans with clear timelines for implementation.

Presenting an overview of the state’s disease burden, the State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr Tonia Mbagwu, disclosed that 20 out of 85,802 pregnant women tested for Syphilis were positive, while 117 out of 62,971 women tested for Hepatitis were positive.

Mbagwu stressed the need to expand prevention programmes and targeted testing to reach underserved populations, while also increasing domestic resource mobilisation and partnerships.