Ondo inaugurates committee to curb prevalence of TB, HIV

The Steering Committee on Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), will be inaugurated in Ondo State towards proffering solutions and decrease the burden of the diseases on the affected people.

Feyisayo Adepoju, State Technical Officer of Damien Foundation Belgium Nigeria (DFB), who spoke at the weekend during their bi-annual State Steering Committee meeting, held in Akure, to fine-tune the inauguration of the Committee, said the objectives of the meeting was to review programme achievement of the State viz-a viz proffering solutions to challenges that might hinder programme implementation and shared best practices among team members.

“The meeting is to proffer solutions on how to decrease the burden of TB and HIV in people at risk of or af- fected by both diseases. To establish and strengthen the mechanisms of collaboration and joint management between HIV programmes and TB-control programmes.

“To improved stakehold- ers engagement in implemen- tation of GC7 TB/HIV grant. To support advocacy, communication and social mobilization for stakeholders who contribute to responding to these epidemics and engage people affected with diseases into the process.

“To strengthen involvement and foster collaboration between government, partners and stakeholders. Creating greater public, private, government, nongov- ernmental and professional awareness of the urgent need for robust response through fostering implementation of the national committal documents.

“Promote engagement of community structures to advocate for resources to implement joint TB/HIV activities and to review policy and implementation guidelines and provide recommendations for best approaches.

“The HIV pandemic presents a significant challenge to global tuberculosis control. TB is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV. To mitigate the dual burden of TB/HIV in general and at risk populations. Global Fund (GF) instituted TB/HIV grant cycle 7. This is being implemented by Damien Foundation (DFB) as sub recipient in collaboration with state government in our five implementing states; Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ondo.

“In order to have a successful implementation of the grant, a bi-annual state steering committee has been proposed. This will hope will help to provide guidance for the state and other partners on how to address the HIV related TB burden in the community.”

Stephen Fagbemi and Isaac Aladeniyi, the Directors, Public Health and Family Health, Ondo State Ministry of Health, in their remarks respectively asked that the committee should remain at a technical working group level while fine-tuning all the details necessary to coalesce into a committee after review with the adequate state actors.

Fagbemi and Aladeniyi, however, reiterated that things should be done within the tenets of government and governance and appreciated the contributions of the implementing partners, including Damien Foundation Belgium Nigeria (DFB) to TB/HIV control in the state.

BusinessDay reports that the bi-annual state steering committee meeting was organized by the damien foundation, in collaboration with the Ondo state ministry of health.