The Oyo State chapter of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for appointing one of its members, Mrs. Olushola-Jimoh Tolulope Adebanke, as a Permanent Secretary.

In a statement signed by the association’s secretary, Awojobi Hezekiah Adebiyi, the group described the appointment as a landmark achievement, noting that it is the first time a member of the association has been appointed to such a position in the State.

“The appointment is a landmark achievement of the Association as no one had ever been so appointed among the members in the State.” the statement read

The association praised Governor Makinde’s commitment to effective primary health care services in the State, evident in the human and structural development in the State. They also commended the Governor for providing a level playing field for all applicants during the selection process.

“The appointment is an indication that every applicant was given a level-play ground in the preliminary process. This was not taken for granted as it was seen as a golden opportunity for less-recognized Cadre of workers in the State.”

In appreciation of the Governor’s gesture, the association promised to reciprocate with increased commitment and efficiency in healthcare services across the 33 local government areas of the State.

“Your Excellency Sir, your administration is prayed a higher level of achievement and fulfillment in Your cardinal development strides.” the statement concluded.

The Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) recently hosted a stakeholders meeting aimed at strengthening the State’s response to HIV, TB, and gender human rights.

The summit which was held at Koltotel Hotel, Ikolaba in Ibadan, brought together key stakeholders, including Government officials, civil society organizations, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and community leaders across the State.

In his address at the Summit, the OYSACA Chairman, Dr. Gbola Adetunji emphasized the importance of collective action, stating that “This stakeholders meeting marks a crucial step in our collective fight against HIV, TB, and gender human rights violations.

He said “We must work together to ensure that our response is effective, inclusive, and sustainable.”

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Waheed Lanre Abass, Dr. Adetunji outlined OYSACA’s goals, which include reviewing the current status of HIV, TB, and gender human rights response in the State, identifying gaps and challenges, and developing a comprehensive action plan to sustain and scale up efforts.

The Chairman noted that Oyo State Government is developing a comprehensive action plan to sustain and scale up HIV, TB, gender, and human rights responses, supporting the goal to end AIDS by 2025. The plan He said is aims to contain the HIV situation and ensure treatment availability across all 33 Local Government areas.

He emphasized that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 requires a systematic and large-scale approach to addressing stigma. He reported that TB and HIV are interconnected, with one increasing the risk of the other.

He further highlighted that stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers to HIV testing, linkage to care, treatment adherence, and viral load suppression in Nigeria.

He mentioned that “To achieve the shared goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, it’s essential to address these inequalities and ensure people-centered responses”.

“We need to do more in terms of testing, linkages to treatment, and treatment adherence for TB and HIV. Ability to identify people living with either HIV or TB is very important and the first step in bringing them to treatment.

“The estimated number of people living with HIV is 58,000. But we have less than 30,000 on treatment. That means we have about 28,000 people that are still living in our community that we have not been able to identify. So we need to scale up our game to identify these people and then bring them into the treatment net.

“On human rights status State response, we are seeing many cases. A man beating his wife on a regular basis, and women being raped or sexually assaulted, but people are not speaking up because of the stigma that is attached”. The Chairman added.

Dr. Adetunji reaffirmed OYSACA’s commitment to leading the charge against HIV, TB, and gender human rights violations, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders. By working together, OYSACA aims to ensure a unified and effective response to these critical issues.

Raji K. K

Media Officer.

The Executive Secretary (ES) of OYSACA, Dr. Lanre Abass, and the Project Monitor, Dr. Kayode Ogunkunle, held a meeting today Thursday June 13, 2024 with the management and staff of the agency.

• The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming Global Fund Project and ensure its success.

In essence, the meeting aimed to:

• Inform and engage the staff on the project’s objectives and expectations.
• Gather input and ideas from the team to ensure a collaborative approach.
• Address any concerns or questions staff may have.
• Strategize and plan for a successful implementation of the project.

By doing so, the agency can ensure a united and effective effort to achieve the project’s goals and make a positive impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Oyo State.

Oyo State Government through the Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) and the State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has started the enrollment of indigent People Living With HIV across the State into its free basic healthcare scheme.

The registration for the Scheme which took place recently at OYSACA’s conference room and at the Zonal offices of OYSHIA across the six geopolitical zones in the State, is under the Basic Health Provision Funds, an initiative of the Federal Government set aside to cater for the health needs of vulnerable people and poorest among the poor in the society.

While addressing the journalists, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr. Lanre Abass stated that one of the cardinal areas that the Agency is working on is to make sure that it brings succor to the People Living With HIV (PLWIHV) in the State.

“In doing this we approached the OYSHIA so that our people living with HIV especially the poor among them will be able to access free medical services paid for by the State Government through the poorest of the poor program under the Basic Health Care Fund and thank God that is what we are doing today.” Dr Abass noted.

He expressed his gratitude to the Executive Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for granting the Agency’s wish by extending the dividends of democracy to PLHIV in the State.

“I want to appreciate the Governor through his wife, our Chairperson, Engr. Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, he has been a man of people.” He said.

“He has been showing passion for the lives of the citizens of Oyo State through many programmatic interventions and this is one of them.

People Living With HIV in the State are not forgotten and not neglected, their health is also a major concern to the Governor.” Dr. Abass added.

The Executive Secretary enjoined the beneficiaries of the program (PLWIHV) to make proper use of it and not to abuse it.

“It is only when you need services that you should access it” everybody needs to, to ensure efficiency, continuity and  sustainability, he urged.

The representative of OYSHIA who is the desk officer for the Agency, Miss Orimadegun Bolatito explained that after the capturing the details of the beneficiaries, Identity Cards would be issued to them and they would be assigned into various facilities across the State where they can get treatment for whatever ailment they may be suffering from.

Orimadegun hinted that the scheme covered the basic minimum health package set at Federal Level which includes both primary and secondary services.

“If we have needs for referral, we have our general hospitals all over the State to handle secondary services, they would be referred and they would be treated for the secondary services if that is necessary.” She said.

Appreciating the Governor, on behalf of People Living With HIV in the State, the State Coordinator, the Network of People Living With HIV and AIDs in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr. Olawale Faith urged his people to make good use of the opportunity bestowed on them by the Governor.

Olawale said “I want to thank the Governor for given us this opportunity, for considering us, for supporting our people in that area, we appreciate His Excellency so much and we pray that God will continue to bless him and renew his strength.