Health ministry to improve data on HIV response

Federal Ministry of Health says it will improve on the available data to mobilise necessary resources for the achievement of HIV response in the country.

Permanent Secretary, Mrs Kachollom Daju, represented by Mr Gbenga Ijaodola, Director, Health Planning, Research, and Statistics in the ministry said during scientific roundtable series.

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The theme was “TIME TO ACT: Using the power of data to reach missing children, young people and the most vulnerable towards Universal Health Coverage.”

She said, “We will improve on the data, identify where we have issues, this will help us mobilise the necessary resources that are needed to address HIV cases.

“We will collaborate with the organistion by making use of each other’s brain and put it on the table so we can improve and ensure proper use.

“We will translate the data to action, then see how we can improve by using it, if we are able to identity were we have problems then we address the issues.”

According to Daju, universal health coverage talks about targets which are to do with numbers, so with the data, we will be able to provide guidelines to know if we are doing well.

“We cannot do without data so as we have the data every soon we will be able to meet the target we set,’’ she added.

Dr EBolanle Oyeledun, Chief Executive Office of CHIP said that the programme was centred on the use of big data to improve HIV service delivery in Nigeria.

Oyeledun said that the aim was to achieve adequate data result of people living with HIV.

She said the roundtable was for stakeholders to involve in discussions, deliberations, and sharing of knowledge related to improving health outcomes for Nigerians.

According to her, the people living with the virus will be involved in order to achieve a better result.

“We work with relevant stakeholders and associations to achieve good result. We want to carry everybody around,’’ she said.

Oyeledun said that the organisation already has data but they are improving on it.

“The data will enable us know where people are missing out; we will make sure people living with the virus are carried along.

“If we are able to identity where we have problem the data will help us address the issue,’’ she said.

Oyeledun said that the organisation always ensured that people living with the virus were placed on treatment and also do follow- ups to avoid drop out.

She said the collaboration had helped the people to access the new alternative drugs for HIV.

According to her, CHIP is working with the government and relevant stakeholders so as to achieve a good result for HIV in the country.