Civil Society Organization in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has said that stock-outs of essential drugs and testing kits are some of challenges affecting services of HIV, TB and Malaria treatment in the society.
Speaking during a media briefing on the Global Find Malaria Community -Led Monitoring Project being implemented by ACOMIN, the State Programme Officer of ACOMIN, Sir Austin Uwede said that in the current and previous quarters, several facilities reported shortages of HIV test kits, antimalarial drugs and rapid diagnostic tools.
Uwede, who stated that inadequate health workers and infrastructural decay were equally affecting healthcare service delivery, noted that the NGO had continued to play pivotal role in strengthening community healthcare facilities through its Community Led Monitoring (CLM) model .
The ACOMIN SPO enumerated the success stories in two quarters to include building and donation of a waiting hall at Uwheru PHC by sons and daughters of the community in diaspora, complete renovation of labour room with A/C and water heater and female ward , provision of mattresses, beddings , window blinds by the Rotary Club at Pessu PHC in Warri South Local Government Area.
According to Uwede, other achievements recorded by the CSO were the procurement and donation of 10 benches, adult weighing scale, BP apparatus, plastic chairs and tables , and restoration of electricity at Odovie PHC in Ughelli North LGA by the community, donation of new water pumping machine at Ekrerhavwen PHC also in Ughelli North and the donation of BP apparatus at Adobu PHC in Patani Local Government Area as well as the procurement and donation of drips stands , BP apparatus, thermometer, glucometer and consumables at Ovrode PHC in Isoko North by the community.
Uwede, however, stressed the need for the private sector, community and philanthropists to partner with government with a view to bridging the existing gaps confronting the healthcare facilities.
In his welcome address,the Chairman of ACOMIN in Delta State, Pastor Gregory Sifo said that ACOMIN was all about service to humanity, stressing that the communities have started taking ownership of the project.
Sifo stated that the Community -Led Monitoring model was result oriented just as he urged the media to help amplify the success stories of ACOMIN.
Earlier in their various goodwill messages, the Malaria Programme Manager in the State Ministry of Health, Dr.(Mrs.) Julie Aniah, the Chief Imam of Asaba Central Mosque, Dr. Adekola Yinusa and the Director of Partnership and Policy Coordination, Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Mrs. Grace Sifo thanked the CBOs for their contributions to the project.
Dr. Aniah said that the state government’s efforts in curbing malaria was yielding tremendous results as the malaria prevalence ratio for 2022 has declined to 10% from 48% in 2018, expressing optimism that the prevalence ratio would go down more when the statistics from 2023 to 2025 will be released.
Mrs. Grace Sifo explained that the only test kits available in hospitals in the country was for the HIV testing for the pregnant women.
By Magnus Emuji
