The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 25,000 HIV test kits to the Bauchi State Government to improve early detection of the disease.
The Head of UNICEF Chief Field Office, Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, disclosed this during the handover of the kits on Monday in Bauchi.
Rafique said the donation was aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children under five, noting that early detection of HIV ensures timely treatment and prevents mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
“This is a critical intervention aimed at identifying HIV infection early and saving the lives of children by preventing mother-to-child transmission.
“Once children are tested, mothers will be properly counseled on appropriate nutrition and breastfeeding practices to ensure quality care for their children,” she said.
The Chairman of the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr Adamu Sambo, described the intervention as timely.
Sambo said the test kits would be used to determine the HIV status of children and serve as a risk-control measure to curb the spread of the disease and improve health outcomes in the state.
He noted that the state had been facing challenges due to inadequate HIV test kits, which affected screening across different population groups.
“These kits are timely and will go a long way in bridging the gap across various age groups.
“We will also distribute them to other partners, including primary healthcare facilities, secondary health institutions and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), particularly for the care of malnourished children,” he said.
