By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
Benue State Government, in conjunction with health stakeholders, has constituted a seven-man health programme sustainability technical team to design a sustainable transition plan following the winding down of international donor funding from APIN Public Health Initiatives.
This action comes as international donor funding for the APIN Public Health Initiatives (formerly the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria) gradually winds down interventions in the State.
The newly designated technical team to be headed by the honourable commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche is charged to review the sustainability gaps, prioritise critical interventions, identify financing opportunities and develop a realistic, coasted action plan within seven days.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deborah Serumun Aber announced this during the APIN State programme and sustainability performance scorecard review meeting held in Makurdi, at the weekend.
She maintained that the team shall comprise representatives of the Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Benue State Bureau for international Cooperation and Development (BICD), State Health Insurance Agency and APIN Public Health Initiatives and Benue state investment promotion agency.
Serumun commended APIN for demonstrating purposeful development cooperation, stating that over 183,000 people receiving HIV treatment through supported services across 264 health facilities, alongside significant investments in laboratory infrastructure, healthcare personnel and treatment outcome.
The SSG emphasised the need for Benue State to strengthen domestic financing, integrate successful health interventions into government systems and protect essential healthcare services from disruptions arising from changes in funding arrangements.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to working with APIN and other development partners to sustain the progress recorded in the health sector, stressing that no patient should be denied life-saving treatment because of funding challenges.
Mrs. Aber also acknowledged APIN’s contributions to HIV/AIDS interventions in the state, noting the importance of sustaining the achievements recorded through its programmes.
Speaking at the event, State Programme Lead of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Mr. Enebi Achimogu, disclosed that the organisation was currently providing HIV/AIDS care services to more than 197,000 people in Benue State.
Mr. Achimogu explained that the services included the provision of antiretroviral drugs and other essential HIV/AIDS care interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of people living with the virus.
