Group Condemns lack of testing kits in Gombe

A coalition of civil society organisations has condemned the shortage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Malaria testing kits in most of the Primary Healthcare Centres in Gombe State. The organisations include the Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition, and Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

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Speaking during a media round table held with the Global Fund, National Agency for Control of AIDS, Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health and the COVID-19 Response Mechanism Grant, the State Programme Officer of NEPWHAN, Makka Dauda, said to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, both of which have become an epidemic, there was need to strengthen the formal and community health systems.

He further explained that the Resilient System Strengthening for Health is a community intervention that supports the development and reinforcement of informed, capable, coordinated and sustainable structures, and mechanisms. According to Dauda, the findings are based on its interventions in 72 facilities in five local government areas out of 11. “There is a need for state actors to provide adequate HIV and Malaria test kits across these facilities,” he added.

Also speaking, NEPWHAN State Coordinator, Mohammed Sabo, urged the government to show more commitment to tackling the challenges highlighted. He also commended the collaborations existing between various organisations involved in the system strengthening for health in the state.

He said: “It comes at little or no cost from the government. When they are not available, clients are made to stay away from health facilities or pay from their pocket.”

He also noted that the Coalition has taken it upon itself to carry out advocacies across organisations and for public-spirited individuals to assist towards augmenting the shortfall in order to stem the tide of transmission.

“This is not only for government’s consideration, it is also for our consideration. Three months ago we carried advocacy to Ashaka Cement Company and they donated test kits to NEPWHAN, which helped us in clients testing,” Sabo added.

On her part, ACOMIN State Coordinator, Hassana Maisanda, disclosed that in cases where the test kits are not too expensive, some community-based organisations have procured the kits.

She said: “What matters most is that this project is concerned about making communities where we work to collaborate with the facilities towards taking ownership of the hospitals that the government has built. It is not everything that government can do. At least, the government has tried in bringing the facility into their locality,” it added.

Grace/Punch