The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Enugu Field Office has expressed readiness to support the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) in the first quarter of 2027, in a move expected to strengthen HIV prevention, treatment and care, as well as improve access to essential healthcare services across the state.
The commitment was conveyed by UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, during a courtesy visit to the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, on Friday, October 16, 2026.
During the meeting, Dr. Okeke presented Anambra State’s HIV response workplan, ongoing interventions and priority programmes aimed at expanding access to HIV services and strengthening prevention, treatment and care for residents.
The discussions also explored areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration in improving healthcare delivery, particularly for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
Key areas of discussion included alternative models of healthcare delivery, stronger community-based disease surveillance networks and the use of community structures to promote antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendance and institutional deliveries.
These interventions are expected to strengthen linkages between communities and health facilities, encourage timely access to healthcare and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for both organisations to exchange ideas on strengthening coordination, leveraging institutional expertise and fostering collaboration among relevant health sector stakeholders to advance Anambra State’s health priorities.
The proposed partnership is expected to create opportunities for UNICEF and ANSACA to explore complementary interventions that will improve access to HIV services and contribute to better health outcomes across the state.
The engagement further highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening health systems, expanding access to essential healthcare and advancing efforts towards an AIDS-free Anambra.
Both organizations are expected to sustain discussions on areas of collaboration, particularly in HIV response and maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health interventions.
