Kaduna state has witnessed a trail of bandit attacks, kidnapping and terrorism. The insecurity experienced across many local government areas as well as the effect of the year 2020 COVID-19 pandemic movement restrictions reduced access to health facilities. As a result, identifying children living with HIV was a challenge.
To address this gap, Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) utilized innovative strategies in supported health facilities and communities. In 55 health facilities, CIHP mentored staff and put in place systems to increase testing of children and adolescents whose parents or guardians are HIV positive.
Facility staff conducted weekly tracking to identify children of newly diagnosed HIV patients and provide HIV testing services for them. Staff of community-based organizations supported by CIHP also received training on providing HIV testing and other health services to these children and adolescents using a list generated from the facilities.
According to Dr Emmanuel Udeh the CIHP Project state Lead, “Each facility and local government area had weekly targets and we conducted weekly performance review meetings with facility and community service providers.”
As a result of this intervention, HIV case identification amongst the pediatric and adolescents surpassed achievements from previous years. There was a 120% increase in two years (from Fiscal Year 2020 to Fiscal Year 2022).
“We identified a total of 1,616 children and successfully linked them to treatment thereby addressing 44% of the unmet need of the state,” Dr Udeh says.
