The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is exploring a partnership with the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) to strengthen HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, with support expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027.
The proposed collaboration will also focus on improving maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, as part of efforts to expand access to essential healthcare in Anambra State.
The development emerged during a meeting between UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, and the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, in Anambra State.
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ANSACA’s Public Relations Officer, Obianuju Isima, disclosed that the meeting provided an opportunity for both organisations to identify areas of cooperation in line with the state’s health priorities.
During the engagement, Okeke presented the agency’s HIV response workplan, ongoing interventions and priority programmes aimed at improving access to prevention, testing, treatment and care services across the state.
Discussions also centred on strengthening maternal and child healthcare through alternative service delivery models, improved community-based disease surveillance and stronger links between communities and health facilities.
The organisations further explored ways to mobilise community structures to encourage antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendance and facility-based deliveries, which are important in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
The proposed partnership is also expected to promote better coordination among health sector stakeholders and support complementary interventions to address gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly at the community level.
Collaboration between government health agencies and international development partners remains an important approach to strengthening health systems, expanding access to essential services and addressing public health challenges in Nigeria.
Although the proposed partnership is still at the exploratory stage, the engagement provides an opportunity for UNICEF and ANSACA to align their expertise and resources towards reducing new HIV infections, improving access to treatment and care, and strengthening maternal and child health services in Anambra State.
