6th December 2023
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has commended the private sector’s contribution to combating tuberculosis in Nigeria.
IHVN Coordinator Global Fund TB Public Private Mix Project, Dr. Temitope Adetiba says that from 2019 to 2023, the private sector identified more than 195,000 individuals with tuberculosis across 23 states and ensured their linkage to treatment with support from the Global Fund.
“IHVN engaged more than 24,000 private entities, including hospitals, laboratories, and faith-based organizations, to screen and treat people with tuberculosis through the Public Private Mix project.
Private providers also identified close to 1,500 persons with drug-resistant tuberculosis and enrolled them for treatment.
”According to Dr Adetiba, the increase in tuberculosis notifications was achieved through strategies such as the use of performance-based incentives, efficient screening via an android-based Mobile Application for Tuberculosis Screening (MATS), deploying Linkage Coordinators and collaboration with umbrella organizations of private health service providers such as Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), and Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD).
Dr Adetiba adds that the private sector has also played a crucial role in identifying children with tuberculosis through child-focused community outreaches and targeted tuberculosis screening in hospitals.
“IHVN, in partnership with National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) and other organizations, supports X-rays for improved clinical and childhood diagnosis, maintains specialized drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment centers and reference laboratories, and improves access to tuberculosis diagnosis.
”Dr. Adetiba emphasizes that the goal is to increase the private sector’s contribution to 35% by 2026 through the upcoming Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 in which IHVN will implement a nationwide scale-up of TB and HIV services in the private sector and community.
“The Institute is committed to building partnerships to consolidate the progress made,” he says.
The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) is a non-governmental organization established in 2004 to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Nigeria by developing infrastructure for treatment, care, prevention, and support for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
IHVN has expanded its services to other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and non-infectious diseases, including cancers.
As a local organization, the Institute is structured to collaboratively develop and maintain linkages within and outside the country that support the Government of Nigeria’s health sector strategic plans.
IHVN was selected by the Country Coordinating Mechanism and the Global Fund in 2019, as the first Principal Recipient of TB Public Private Mix (PPM) scale-up in Nigeria The GF TB PPM Project is a strategic initiative with the objective of engaging all private healthcare providers in the fight against Tuberculosis, using international healthcare standards.
The grant aim is to reduce the burden of TB by complementing and accelerating the ongoing activities implemented by the Nigerian government and other partners.
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