United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard has asked states in the country to follow Akwa Ibom model for the support of HIV/AIDS programme which has yielded massive success.
Leonard, who was in the South-South state in the course of the week with a
delegation from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led by Mission Director Anne Patterson, paid visit to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel and toured hospital and HIV control facilities supported by USAID.
During a visit to Governor Emmanuel, Ambassador Leonard discussed the success of HIV control in Akwa Ibom State, noting that it was as a result of a “surge” in U.S. assistance through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the state abolishing user fees for treatments.
Both Leonard and Emmanuel also spoke of malaria control, the investment climate in the state ahead of the arrival of a new Sheraton hotel, and Akwa Ibom’s participation in the new USAID ‘State 2 State” activity to improve governance.
Leonard said: “The United States applauds Akwa Ibom’s achievements toward HIV epidemic control,” noting that the governor’s commitment to abolish user fees has been critical to increasing use of HIV services and has made “Akwa Ibom a model we hope other states will follow.”
Leonard during his visit was at a U.S.-supported HIV ‘Situation Room’ within the state Ministry of Health. A technology-based platform that keeps service providers, community service managers, and public health decision makers connected. The Situation Room helps the state ensure transparency and availability of real time data, and greater data integrity, with date generated in the Situation Room guiding the interventions and course corrections and has been a critical tool in Akwa Ibom’s historic growth of HIV treatment from 20 to 80 percent of people living with HIV in the state.
She also visited a “One Stop Shop” in Uyo that provides HIV medicines and therapy and other health services for more than 7,000 members of vulnerable populations in a safe and stigma free space, and was at the U.S.-supported General Hospital Etinan, where a staff of 135 provides anti-retroviral therapy for more than 3,300 patients, including a 45-bed inpatient capacity.
She met with leaders of the Akwa Ibom state Task Force on Human Trafficking established by Governor Emmanuel in August 2020.
The Ambassador commended officials on their efforts to combat human trafficking, and said she hopes other states would follow their example.
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