BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Over one hundred and three point eight billion naira grant from global fund has been Earmarked for Resilience and Sustainable health system programme in eighteen states including Ondo State by the federal government through National Agency for the control of AIDS, NACA.
Following this, a five man state advocacy team was set up to coordinate activities of community based organizations to ensure successful implementation of the programme in Ondo State.
As part of effort to ensure effective implementation of the program in ondo state, community and religious leaders, national orientation agency NOA, non- governmental organizations , journalist,women groups converge on Akure, the state capital for a three day training stepping up advocacy aimed at identifying and strengthening the health sector.
The monitoring and evaluation manager, network of people living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, Mrs Nkechi Okoro said the program had opened the eyes of community based organizations, CBOS to what they needed to do in the area of advocacy.
The facilitator and the officer in charge of national monitoring and evaluation on the grant , Mr Jerry Antai explained that the global fund was aimed at achieving quality in Service delivery in the state head system.
The project manager, ondo state agency for the control of aids, ODSACA, Dr Dayo Adegbulu described the grant as a global health grant that will proffer solutions to some gaps and build a robust health system.
Ondo state programme officer of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, Mrs Olajumoke Ogunyemi- Abereowo said the grant would give hope to the people with HIV/ AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis in the state who where not given adequate attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria, two community heads, the Olujigba in Akure, ambassador Luyi Rotimi and the regent of Ibulesoro community, princess Moyinoluwa Falowo both said the programme was a new approach to advocate better health care and service delivery especially at the grass roots.
Participants at the programme including the state coordinator for malaria control,Mr Junid Adeyemi- Gold, and NGO director, Mrs Folashade Bamiboye and coordinator Tuberculosis network, Mrs Ayomide Jayeola appreciated the organisers of the workshop, describing it as timely helping to build their capacity in terms of advocacy, issues around HIV, TB, malaria and gender related issues and ways to proffer solutions or help victims.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated state advocacy team, high chief Akomolafe Pius gave an assurance of the team’s commitment to discharging its duties as expected.
In an interview, The Ondo state coordinator of the Network of People With HIV And Aids, Prince Adebayo Aladelusi explained that the GLobal fund project is an innovation that would help address various issues confronting health system in the country, especially at the grassroot.