Bauchi has declared that it has recorded gradual but consistent reduction in the prevalence of HIV in the State to only 0.4% in 2019 which was much lower than the national prevalence of 1.5%.
The disclosure was made by the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo while addressing Journalists on activities to commemorate the 2023 World AIDS Day celebrated on Friday, 1st December of every year.
According to him, “We have 31 Comprehensive HIV Treatment Sites and 883 Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Sites in the State.These huge successes were as a result of concerted efforts being put in place by the State and all the stakeholders.”
He said that the State currently is supposed to have an estimated number of about 32,000 people living with HIV out of which 31,252 of them have already been identified, representing 98%.
“Likewise, 30,141 of those who knew their HIV Positive Status are currently on treatment representing 96% coverage. However, the State was only able to achieve 93% by having 28,268 out of the 30,141 on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) that achieved Viral Load Suppression,” he added.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr Gamawa, the Commissioner stressed that, “Importantly, the political-will demonstrated by the Government of Bauchi State under the Leadership of the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.”
He disclosed further that, “Recent scientific evidences has shown that HIV patients that attained a level of viral suppression can no longer transmit the infection to others; U-U (Undetectable Untransmissible).The 2019 National AIDS Impact Indicator Survey (NAIIS) conducted in the country showed that the State had 0,4% with an estimated current population of about 8 million people.”
Adamu Sambo said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, gladly the State has gone so far in achieving a significant percentage that signifies hope of eliminating HIV, because we have attained the following levels of achievements; 98-96- 93.”
He stressed that it is encouraging news that Bauchi State has achieved two of the three targets and is close to achieving the last one even much earlier than the Year 2030.
According to him, “Globally, it is also gratifying to inform you that significant advancement has been made in the development of HIV Vaccine and long-acting ART (1-3) monthly injection) were developed, which will hasten the elimination of HIV.”
The Commissioner appreciated all Developmental Partners, Donors, CSOs, Traditional and Religious Leaders, Healthcare Providers and NEPHWAN for their support in achieving the great feat.
“However, achieving Epidemic Control does not mean we have eliminated it, therefore all of us as the relevant stakeholders we should double our efforts to achieve the elimination in the State, Nation and World,” he added.
He also said that despite these huge successes recorded, the exercise is not without some challenges related to the health system infrastructure, unmet needs for commodities, data quality, Human Resources for Health, lack of PCR Centre in the State and more importantly the dwindling donor funding.
These challenges constitute key barriers to universal access to HIV/AIDS services in the State and Nigeria as a whole which underscores the point that State Government alone should not be left to bear this burden saying, “Organized Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Philanthropists, Donor Agencies needs to continue to play their part.”
He then reiterated that, “We certainly need to increase investment in the health of our citizens, optimize our response strategies and strengthen our coordination and accountability frameworks to achieve the level of optimal returns on our investment in Health Sector.”
He stressed that the Governor has been demonstrating excellent political will to improve the health status of the good people of Bauchi State through robust funding of the Health Sector.
Some of them include but are not limited to; the immediate Declaration of State of Emergency in the Health Sector, conducting the first Bauchi State Health Submit in 2020 and consistently allocating over 16% of our Total Budgetary Allocation to the Health Sector (which is even higher than the 15% recommended by the WHO during Abuja Declaration, 2000); further reaffirmed his total commitments in revitalizing the Health Sector.
Also, the State Government had already passed and disseminated a Law on Compulsory Pre-marital Genotype, HIV Testing and Anti-Discrimination, which is aiding the control of the disease in the State.
In the area of funding, apart from the routine Budgetary Allocation to BACATMA, we have a Law that grants the Agency 1% of Consolidated Monthly Allocation of all the LGAs in the State, which we now have been regular for quite some time.
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