NEPWHAN urges community ownership to strengthen health programmes
The Network of People Living with HIV in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has called for stronger community participation, institutional partnerships, and citizen ownership of healthcare development programmes across the country. Malam Yahaya Sanusi, NEPWHAN Programme Officer, made the appeal during a media engagement on Monday in Sokoto. He SAID through Global Fund-supported interventions, NEPWHAN has constructed and […]
The Network of People Living with HIV in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has called for stronger community participation, institutional partnerships, and citizen ownership of healthcare development programmes across the country.
Malam Yahaya Sanusi, NEPWHAN Programme Officer, made the appeal during a media engagement on Monday in Sokoto.
He SAID through Global Fund-supported interventions, NEPWHAN has constructed and rehabilitated health facilities while delivering services that expanded access to care in the state.
Sanusi, who also coordinates the COVID-19 Response Mechanism and Community System Strengthening (C19RM and CSS) grant, stressed that community ownership is key to sustaining healthcare projects.
He noted that C19RM and CSS interventions have delivered priority projects in Bodinga, Shagari, Sokoto North, Dange Shuni, and Gwadabawa LGAs.
Commending the state government for recruiting health workers, he urged regular refresher training to improve service delivery and called for better equipping of facilities with testing kits and essential drugs.
He welcomed Sokoto State’s allocation of N100.6 million for HIV/AIDS kits and consumables, describing it as a timely measure that would ease concerns following the January suspension of US foreign aid, which disrupted HIV medicine supplies.
“This development will significantly reduce fear and uncertainty among people living with HIV,” he said.
The District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, praised the government’s response, noting the withdrawal of donor support had created uncertainty for HIV programmes.