A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), TB Network, has called for more commitments in efforts made to address the barriers to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria (ATM), and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
The State Focal Person, Tuberculosis (TB), Rivers State, Mr. Messiah Fyneface Muzan, who made the call, Thursday, in a media parley in Port Harcourt, profered a seven-point agenda towards this end.
In his presentation, sub-titled, “Call To Action: Addressing HIV, TB, Malaria and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria”, Muzan said, to advance the fight against HIV, TB, Malaria, and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria, one of the key things for relevant authorities to do is for the National Health Insurance programme enjoyed by the formal sector to be extended to others, particularly the poor and most vulnerable.
According to him, this is because, “the poor often are less educated and unemployed, and consequently lack the ability to pay out-of-pocket for high costs associated with frequent illnesses”.
He also said, “funding and finances for Primary Health delivery should be carefully mapped out and sanctioned against any misappropriation or mismanagement, to enable a robust public health programme at all Ward levels in the Local Government.
“Communication and education programmes, he said, can raise knowledge and awareness, and, in turn, improve testing and care-seeking”.
He said this is because of the need to “educate, engage, and empower the communities to embrace any behaviour change relevant to achieving success in HIV, TB, and malaria control in Nigeria “.
The State Focal Person on TB further said every Ward should commit to health promotion and education programmes to increase awareness of prevention measures, and promote community participation, while adhering to evidence-based strategies.
Other proposals by the State TB Network boss are: “commit adequate resources through advocacy and partnerships for the full and effective implementation of planned interventions, including through involvement of the private sector and community participatory approaches.
“Community members should actively support and advocate their local Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs). Community involvement is crucial in ensuring sustainability and effectiveness of these centres.
“Additionally, community support can manifest through volunteering, donating resources, or participating in advocacy efforts to secure increased funding amd resource for PHCs”.
On Gender-Based Violance and gender human rights, he noted that they occur through such forms as domestic abuse, verbal aggression, physical violence, early and forced marriages, incest, Female Genital Cutting (FGC), acid attacks, and outright killings, saying women, men, boys and girls “continue to endure degradation and deprivation in both public and private spaces”.
For the stated reasons, he said, “the Civil Society for the Eradication of TB in Nigeria calls on all stakeholders to combat the rising cases of GBV in our society.
“We implore every citizen not to remain silence. Let us unite our efforts to eradicate this menace from our nation. If you witness something, please speak out”.

By: Soibi Max-Alalibo