Association Tasks Govt, Stakeholders On ATM Programme

By: Soibi Max-Alalibo

The Association of Civil Societies in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on Government at all levels and other stakeholders to support Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) to fill gaps in the health sector, particularly as it relates to ATM (AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria) Programme.

Making the call in a media briefing in Port Harcourt at the end of a three-day advocacy visits to five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State, the State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, said this is one key way of reducing the impact of COVID-19 on other illnesses, including HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

“The impact of COVID-19 can be witnessed across all disease areas. A 70-80% decline in the number of patients visiting healthcare facilities in some states like Lagos, and Akwa Ibom was observed for HIB services.

“The national Tuberculosis (TB) programme also recorded a 30% reduction in GeneXpert testing in the first few weeks of COVID-19 lockdown during the first wave.

“Similarly, routine Malaria diagnosis and treatment access was disrupted, and the implementation of the Malaria Indication Survey (MIS) and the Therapeutic Efficacy Studies (TES) were also halted.

“The impact of COVID-19, TB, or malaria could be minimized by maintaining core services and treatment, and early resumption of the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets”, he said.

The ACOMIN boss, therefore, urged CSOs to identify gaps in their various communities that hinder patients from accessing ATM services in healthcare centres in their domains.

He also urged the media, particularly, to intervene in propagating interventions in ATM, among other health challenges.

“We also ask the media to join us as partners to propagate these interventions as we progress, by amplifying the need for increased support and funding for ATM interventions by the Government at all levels”, he stated.

The ATM Programme is aimed at identifying impediments to patients accessing ATM services in healthcare facilities in communities.

“Gaps that are identified through monitoring activities will be noted and prioritized; remediation will be sought through advocacy to decision makers at the national, State, LGA, and community levels.

This will lead to more effective service delivery, improved accessibility, affordability, and investments by communities and governments at local, and State levels for health, and particularly for COVID-19 “, the Chairman said.

Its implementation has started with 18 Global Fund supported states in Nigeria: Ogun, Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, FCT, Edo, and Anambra.

Others are: Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Ondo, and Oyo.

Five LGAs are selected from each State, based on need. In Rivers State, the LGAs are: Tai, Khana, Eleme, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt (PHALGA).