By Chukwudi Nwauba :
Anambra State Ministry of Health has celebrated with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) on their achievement of having 2 million lives in care globally.
State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr. Tonia Mbagwu said AHF is one of the implementation partners in the state.
“They partner with the State Ministry of Health to provide innovative care for people living with HIV and AIDS, with the vision of providing “cutting-edge medicine regardless of ability to pay.
“AHF started operations in Anambra State in 2017, and currently provides comprehensive HIV care and services with 2,028 (Two Thousand and Twenty-Eight) people in record currently in care in 11 Health facilities located across 7 LGAs of the state, in addition to providing HIV testing services in about 20 other healthcare facilities.”
She said that the 2 million in care celebration by the National Program saw the entire HIV/AIDS sector turn up for AHF Nigeria.
” From the Ministry of Health to National AIDS Control Agency (NACA), to the international partners like USAID, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) PEPFAR, to state partners who were duly represented by their SAPCs, the CSOs, and the patients’ association led by Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).
“It was an outstanding gathering of the Who is Who in the HIV/AIDS Corridor in Nigeria, all assembled to celebrate the AHF milestone and appreciate the contribution of the organization to the progress recorded in Nigeria.
The Anambra State Ministry of Health ably led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike alongside his team, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Oby Uchebo, and the acting Director of Public Health and Disease Control Dr. Afam Anaeme appreciates AHF for their resilience and support to the State over the years and hopes for better collaboration.
The Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike presented an award to Anambra State and was received by the AIDS State Coordinator, Dr. Tonia Mbagwu who handed over the award to the Permanent Secretary State Ministry of Health.
*Nwauba is of the State Ministry of Information, Anambra State.*