Kogi State battles HIV/AIDS with treatment access, community awareness, and a call for an anti-stigma law to combat discrimination.

As part of activities marking World AIDS Day 2024, the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KOSACA), in collaboration with the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), has reaffirmed its commitment to combating HIV/AIDS in the state.

The event, held in Lokoja, highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness, ensure treatment access, and tackle stigma.

Also read: NACA Hosts first HIV prevention conference in Nigeria

Ibrahim Anate, the Acting Executive Secretary of KOSACA, revealed that 36,066 individuals are currently receiving treatment in Kogi State.

He emphasised the state government’s dedication under Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to ensure that HIV-positive pregnant women deliver HIV-negative babies and that those living with the virus continue to access life-saving treatments.

Despite progress, Anate noted that security challenges in certain areas of the state hinder patients from accessing treatment.

He also called on Governor Ododo to assent to the recently passed Anti-Stigma HIV law, which aims to empower people living with HIV/AIDS to disclose their status without fear of discrimination.

“When the governor assents to this law, people who are HIV positive can have the confidence to come out and declare their status. Many can’t do this because of the stigmatization in society,” he stated.

Inyama Lawrencia, the Kogi State Technical Lead of CIHP, voiced concerns over mother-to-child HIV transmission in the state. She urged pregnant women to attend antenatal care to know their HIV status and access necessary interventions.

“We have been working in communities to sensitise women and encourage them to come out en masse to know their status. However, financial constraints prevent some women from seeking antenatal services,” she said.

The state government and its partners are intensifying outreach efforts, especially in hard-to-reach areas, to ensure no one is left behind.

Anate reaffirmed that with continued support from the government and stakeholders, the fight against HIV/AIDS would remain steadfast.

Kogi State’s commitment to eliminating HIV/AIDS reflects a broader vision for improved public health, greater inclusivity, and the eradication of stigma against people living with the virus.

Oyo State has shut down two hospitals after suspected Lassa Fever cases and four related deaths, with intensive decontamination underway.

The Oyo State Government has closed two hospitals in response to a suspected Lassa fever outbreak, which has reportedly claimed four lives in Saki West Local Government Area.

The closures aim to prevent further spread as state health authorities work to contain the virus.

Also read: Lassa fever: NCDC records 84 deaths in seven weeks

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, confirmed the fatalities, which included three men and a 32-year-old woman preparing for her wedding.

The infections are believed to have originated from an apprentice at one of the affected hospitals who had returned from Iwajowa and later exhibited symptoms.

The apprentice is suspected to have inadvertently transmitted the virus to her co-workers and the hospital owner.

One of the hospitals involved recorded all four deaths, prompting its immediate closure. The second hospital, where the deceased hospital owner was admitted without prior knowledge of the suspected Lassa fever, has also been sealed for decontamination. The doctor who treated the owner is now under medical surveillance.

“Three of the deceased exhibited classic Lassa fever symptoms, including craniofacial bleeding,” explained Dr Ajetunmobi. “The hospital owner showed fatigue and attempted self-treatment before his symptoms worsened, leading to his hospital admission.”

The Health Ministry’s rapid response team has initiated extensive contact tracing, especially focusing on high-risk contacts involved in the deceased’s bathing and burial rituals.

Intensive decontamination procedures are being conducted in the closed hospitals to safeguard public health.

Dr Ajetunmobi has urged the public to remain vigilant and practice proper hygiene to limit potential exposure to the virus, advising prompt medical attention if symptoms arise.

The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) reports a severe economic crisis that is driving private hospitals to close, while self-medication practices are leading to rising organ failures and deaths across the country.

The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) has raised an alarm over the collapse of private hospitals in Nigeria due to the worsening economic crisis.

Dr. Odia Festus Ihongbe, the Chairman of ANPMP, revealed that the dire economic situation is driving many Nigerians to self-medicate, leading to organ failure and increasing mortality rates.

Also read: Nursing mother stranded in hospital, alleges husband diverted medical fund

Dr. Ihongbe stated that morgues are now filled with bodies while hospital beds remain empty, as people only seek medical help when it is too late.

“The situation has become critical. People come to hospitals only when their condition is at a terminal stage, hoping for miracles. Some even plan to die in hospitals, possibly due to family confusion,” Dr. Ihongbe lamented.

He further revealed that many Nigerians are resorting to searching for symptoms online and purchasing drugs from chemists until their conditions worsen to the point of no return.

“By the time they come to us, it is usually too late, and we end up issuing death certificates because they are not coming in for treatment but just to make arrangements for burial,” he added.

The ANPMP chairman also voiced concern about the recent approval of a N70,000 minimum wage by the federal government, stating that most private hospitals are unable to afford the new wage due to a lack of revenue.

He pointed out that the private sector employs a significant portion of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, including doctors, nurses, and other professionals, yet the sector continues to be neglected by the government.

“How will private hospitals pay the N70,000 minimum wage? We employ the majority of the healthcare staff in Nigeria, yet we receive no support from the government,” Dr. Ihongbe said.

He also noted that the prices of essential medical supplies and equipment have soared due to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis, making it increasingly difficult for hospitals to operate.

“For example, the price of an oxygen machine, which used to cost N25,000, has now skyrocketed to over N1.5 million,” he said, adding that the escalating cost of medical supplies was unsustainable for many private hospitals.

Dr. Ihongbe criticized the Nigerian government’s failure to address the challenges facing the healthcare system, particularly the collapse of the national health insurance scheme, which he said has been ineffective for over 20 years.

He noted that only a small percentage of the population has access to health insurance, and even this small coverage has not provided adequate financial support for medical care.

“The national health insurance system, which could have been a solution, has been destroyed. It only covers a tiny fraction of the population, and the premium increases have done little to address the real issues,” he explained.

He further highlighted that the rising cost of basic medications and supplies, such as paracetamol and syringes, has placed a significant burden on Nigerians, with prices escalating beyond the reach of most citizens.

“A pack of syringes that used to cost N250 now costs over N7,000. How do they expect Nigerians to survive under these conditions?” Dr. Ihongbe asked.

The ANPMP chairman expressed grave concern about the alarming number of deaths occurring daily due to the lack of access to affordable healthcare.

He warned that unless urgent measures are taken to address the healthcare crisis, many more Nigerians will continue to suffer and die needlessly.

Dr. Ihongbe also called for the government to take serious action to revive the national health insurance system and provide better support to the private healthcare sector, which plays a crucial role in delivering medical services to the majority of the population.

In conclusion, he emphasized that the only way to address the current healthcare crisis is for the government to adequately fund the health insurance scheme and ensure that private hospitals are supported with the necessary resources to provide quality care to Nigerians.

“If the health insurance system was working properly, hospitals would be able to meet their financial obligations and provide better services to the people,” Dr. Ihongbe said.