ASR Africa Partners with USAID’s HIV, Tuberculosis Control Efforts in Nigeria

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), has provided critical inputs valued at $500,000 to the national TB and GBV responses, to partner U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on tuberculosis (TB) control and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention efforts in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the contributions will expand the impact of USAID’s current programs, implemented through local Nigerian organizations. Specifically, ASR Africa’s contribution will provide, 11 loop-mediated isothermal amplification diagnostic machines, also known as TB-LAMPs, with laboratory reagents and consumables, renovation of 10 Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy or DOT centres and approximately 1,200 dignity kits for survivors of gender-based violence across selected states in Nigeria.

The TB-LAMP diagnostic machines will enable 11 facilities to effectively diagnose TB, which continues to be a challenge in under-resourced health facilities. All individuals diagnosed with these machines will be placed on treatment for TB at the TB DOT centres that will be renovated by ASR Africa.

The contribution of dignity kits will also strengthen services for survivors of gender-based violence, including medical and psycho-social services, at Sexual Assault Rescue Centres, also known as SARCs, that are supported through USAID’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.

Speaking at the gift acceptance meeting in Abuja, USAID, HIV/AIDS and TB Office Director in Nigeria, Rachel Goldstein said, “As part of USAID’s efforts to deepen private sector involvement in Nigeria, the agency engages with private sector partners in the country to mobilize resources to reduce disease burden and ensure a better quality of life for those affected. The private sector holds immense potential to bring about sustainable development results. Each of ASR Africa’s contributions will amplify the impact of USAID’s development programming in Nigeria while demonstrating the opportunity for public-private partnerships to effectively address unmet development needs.”

Presenting the donation, the Managing Director of ASR Africa, Ubon Udoh said, “ASR Africa is committed to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The end-to-end diagnosis to treatment partnership with USAID, will provide additional capacity and expand ongoing efforts aimed at tackling tuberculosis and HIV across Nigeria.”

USAID has partnered with the government of Nigeria on the tuberculosis response since 2000 and the HIV response since 2003. Through these efforts, USAID has contributed to a reduction in tuberculosis related deaths by nearly 50 percent. Through PEPFAR, USAID is now providing comprehensive life–saving HIV treatment services for over 663,000 people and procuring and delivering medicines for over 1.9 million Nigerians on antiretroviral treatment.