By Christopher Tom, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State has recorded progress in reducing vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B through collaboration with implementing partners and other stakeholders in the health sector.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Umanah, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Uyo, the state capital.
Umanah said the collaboration had contributed to the state’s efforts to tackle the three infections, which pose significant threats to the health and survival of mothers and babies.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining the progress made, pledging to continue providing leadership, ensuring policy integration, maintaining the supply of triple-test kits and incorporating triple elimination into the State Health Development Plan and primary healthcare agenda.
The Acting Permanent Secretary commended implementing partners for their contributions to the universal screening of pregnant women for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
He described their efforts in building the capacity of healthcare workers, strengthening supply chains and laboratory systems, improving data for decision-making, and ensuring treatment, retention in care and viral suppression among pregnant women living with HIV as exemplary.
Umanah stressed that sustained collaboration between the government and implementing partners remained essential to achieving the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the three infections.
Speaking at the meeting, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Healthcare Foundation, Dr. Nseabasi Ekanem, said the high-level stakeholders’ meeting was organised to bring together government representatives, implementing partners, healthcare professionals, private-sector players and community stakeholders around a shared commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.
Ekanem expressed optimism that the elimination of the three infections was achievable through sustained commitment, coordinated interventions and collective responsibility.
He said the foundation would not relent in its efforts despite the challenges, adding that women in rural and underserved communities would also benefit from interventions aimed at preventing the infections.
According to him, educating women about the infections, their modes of transmission, prevention and available treatment options was essential to addressing the public health threats they pose in Nigeria and globally.
Ekanem commended participants for their contributions and determination to advance the triple-elimination agenda, urging them to sustain their collective resolve to end the epidemics.
He expressed confidence that, through effective collaboration and sustained interventions, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria could make significant progress towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.
In his lecture, the guest speaker, Dr. Michael Alumuku, said approximately 1.9 million people were living with HIV in Nigeria, highlighting the need for continued efforts to strengthen prevention, testing, treatment and care services.
He noted that Nigeria had made progress in addressing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with the number of children requiring prevention interventions reportedly declining from 92,000 in 2023 to 40,000 in 2026.
Alumuku also discussed the Federal Government’s response to the freeze in United States government funding, explaining that efforts had been accelerated to mitigate its impact through the development of state-specific plans to integrate HIV services into general healthcare delivery.
He emphasised that integrating HIV services into routine healthcare would help sustain essential interventions, improve access to treatment and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
The stakeholders’ meeting underscored the importance of collaboration among government agencies, implementing partners, healthcare professionals and community organisations in advancing the triple-elimination agenda and protecting the health of mothers and children.