By Justina Auta
The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), has called on government at all levels to increase support and funding for AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) and other diseases in the country.
They made the call on Wednesday, while engaging with the media on COVID-19 Response Mechanism and Sustainable System for Health (C19RM/RSSH) Project in Abuja.
Mr Julius Ibecheole, ACOMIN FCT Cordinator, said COVID 19 had led to 70 to 80 per cent decline in service uptake for diseases.
Ibecheole identified inadequate supply of drugs, hospital consumables and shortage of manpower as the major challenge in most of the PHC facilities at the grassroots.
According to him, more funds would address ATM and other diseases, build a resilient and sustainable system to guarantee healthcare for the citizens, especially rural dwellers.
“A recent report from Global Fund highlights the urgent need to scale up adaptive measures to continue HIV, TB and malaria services.
“This is to ramp up delivery of critical supplies for the COVID-19 response and prevent health care systems from collapse,” he said.
Ibecheole also called on the media to use their platforms to intensify advocacies for more support and collaboration towards eliminating these diseases, especially in rural communities.
“We call on the government particularly that of the FCT and all relevant stakeholders at all levels to support the CBOs implementing this project in the state towards improving health outcomes.
“We also ask the mass media to join us as partners to propagate these interventions as we progress by amplifying the need for increased support and funding for ATM interventions by the government at all levels,” he said.
According to him, ACOMIN alongside NEPWHAN and TB Network has been engaged by NACA under the ongoing Global Fund (GF) COVID-19 RM/RSSH Grant to implement the civil society component in 18 states.
Ibecheole said the C19RM component of the grant would support prevention, treatment and strengthening systems on COVID-19 containment, as well as preparedness for future pandemics.
Others include preventing GBV,respond to human rights and gender related barriers to service, integrate the responses of health systems, communities and CSOs to COVID-19.
Also, Mrs Deborah Azeez, Health Education Officer, FCT Public Health Department, reiterated their commitment to support CBOs implement TB, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 response to improve health care delivery at the grassroots.
Azeez said the FCT administration would always support interventions by individuals and groups willing to complement government’s effort to improve the healthcare facilities in the territory.
Mr Samuel Simon, ACOMIN FCT Programme Officer, urged the media and other stakeholders to work towards ensuring the elimination of these diseases in the country and achieving the targets of the project.
