The AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) Network in Anambra State has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led Government in achieving disease-control targets for HIV, TB, and Malaria in the state.
The group made this known during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, at the Jerome Udorji State Secretariat, Awka, the state capital.
The meeting is part of ATM’s advocacy drive to strengthen service delivery at Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and promote community ownership and utilization of PHCs in Anambra council areas.
Speaking on behalf of the group, TB Anambra State Coordinator, Ifeyinwa Unachukwu, emphasized the importance of strengthening primary healthcare service delivery through community systems strengthening (CSS) in Anambra State.
“The ATM Network is implementing a Global Fund-supported CSS intervention across five Local Government Areas in Anambra State, namely Awka North, Njikoka, Idemili North, Onitsha North, and Orumba North.
“The project aims to improve community engagement, health systems responsiveness, and service uptake for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria, particularly at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level.
“These three diseases continue to pose significant health burdens in Anambra State. While the State has made strong progress in expanding access to diagnostics, treatment, and prevention, gaps still remain at PHC level, especially around early detection and diagnosis, treatment adherence support, community-level reporting and health worker capacity.” Unachukwu said.
She also mentioned other gaps to include referral system functionality, data quality and surveillance, and integration of GBV/GHR within HIV/TB/Malaria services.
Unachukwu disclosed that ATM Network provides a strategic bridge between PHCs and communities by mobilizing TB survivors, HIV champions, WDC members, and community volunteers to strengthen the health system from the bottom up.
She stated that the Network seeks to deepen its collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Health in enhancing quality and availability of HIV/TB/Malaria services across PHCs in the five intervention LGAs, supporting PHC-level health system strengthening activities, and improving referral and counter-referral systems between communities and health facilities.
The TB coordinator urged Ministry of Health to recognize the Network as a strategic community partner in HIV, TB & Malaria control and PHC strengthening, calling for the inclusion of the Network focal persons in State HIV/TB/Malaria Coordination platforms, LGA health stakeholders review meetings, and PHC-level quality improvement committees in the five LGAs.
Also speaking, Anambra State Coordinator of Civil Society Organizations for Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Chioma Okeke, said the Network expects the partnership to yield several benefits, including earlier diagnosis and reduced community transmission of Malaria, HIV and TB, reduced loss to follow-up, improved treatment outcomes, and strengthened capacity of PHCs across the five LGAs.
According to Okeke, other benefits are increased community trust and utilization of PHC services, Better surveillance and higher-quality health data, Improved integration of GBV and human-rights-sensitive services and Stronger progress toward UHC, State Health Goals, and Global Fund performance indicators, among others.
In her speech, TB Network State Programme Officer, Onyekachi Ololo said the meeting aimed to discuss operational collaboration and next steps, and acknowledged the Ministry of Health as a vital partner in enhancing PHC service delivery and disease control in the State.
Ololo however said strengthening the partnership will boost community health outcomes and fast-track progress in reducing the burden of HIV, TB, and Malaria.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uchebo Obiageli commended the group for their efforts, stressing the need to report cases of poor service delivery and performance at PHCs. She said the ministry is open to partnership and collaborations for the betterment of the state.
“We’ll continue to appreciate your efforts because this partnership is a key component of our strategy to empower communities to take ownership of their Primary Health Care (PHC) services. It is a call to action for communities to claim ownership of their PHCs and be involved in their management.
“We are committed to receiving feedback from facilities on nurse performance and services rendered. However, we need support in monitoring PHCs, which is where your partnership comes in.
“Your involvement will enable us to track progress, gather feedback, and take action where necessary. When people feel accountable, they are more likely to deliver quality services.
“Before in Anambra, many facilities have been underutilized, but we are witnessing a shift as people now access quality healthcare services and benefit from government programs at the PHC level,” she said.
