The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has called for greater investment and collective action to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in the country.
Soludo said such interventions are critical to protecting families and securing the future of children.
The Anambra First Lady made the call on Tuesday at a one-day high-level stakeholders’ meeting on the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Syphilis in Anambra State, held at the Light House in Awka.
The event, themed ‘Synergising efforts towards triple elimination: Strengthening investment, innovation, and collaboration to end HIV, viral Hepatitis and Syphilis’, was organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, the Trinity Healthcare Foundation and other partners.
Addressing participants, Soludo said the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative had consistently emphasised preventive healthcare.
She stressed that early testing, timely treatment and proper follow-up during pregnancy could prevent lifelong consequences for both mothers and their babies.
She said, “Greater investment and collective action towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis remains more effective and less costly than treating the diseases after they occur.
“The Anambra State government’s efforts at strengthening maternal and child healthcare services highlight the ongoing free antenatal care programme in public health facilities as evidence of the state government’s commitment to ensuring that no woman is denied access to quality healthcare due to financial limitations.
“Thousands of pregnant women are currently benefiting from essential antenatal services, including screening and preventive interventions aimed at eliminating the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis from mother to child.
“Achieving the ‘Triple Elimination Agenda’ requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, including healthcare workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners and families.”
She urged community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and called on religious leaders to encourage early antenatal attendance and combat the stigma associated with the diseases.
“Stakeholders must expand awareness, strengthen service delivery, increase investments in maternal and child health, eliminate discrimination and promote community ownership of the programme.
“It is my belief that the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis is achievable, affordable and necessary, if only stakeholders renew their commitment to building healthier mothers, healthier babies and healthier communities,” she added.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said that despite progress in HIV testing and prevention, the state’s epidemic profile showed that more needed to be done to identify undiagnosed cases, link patients to treatment and sustain positive outcomes.
Obidike added that the state must intensify efforts to eliminate Hepatitis B and Syphilis transmission, particularly among pregnant women and newborns.
According to him, the state’s free antenatal care programme provides an effective platform for integrating screening, prevention and treatment services for HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis.
In a goodwill message, the Anambra State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr Bonos Mohammed, said the triple elimination initiative required strong political will and sustained collaboration, assuring that the WHO would continue to provide strategic guidance and support.
The National Coordinator and Director of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, represented by Dr Chioma Ukanwa, urged stakeholders and the government to move beyond discussions and begin implementing action plans with clear timelines.
Presenting an overview of the state’s disease burden, the State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr Tonia Mbagwu, revealed that out of 85,802 pregnant women tested for Syphilis in the state, 20 were positive, while 117 out of 62,971 women tested for Hepatitis were positive.
According to Mbagwu, there is a need to expand prevention and targeted testing to reach underserved populations, while increasing domestic resource mobilisation and partnerships.
Other development partners also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the state’s efforts to achieve the triple elimination initiative.
