The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accepted a donation of 75,300 HIV rapid test kits from IHS Towers, an international communications infrastructure company, to leverage efforts towards eradicating HIV and AIDS in Kebbi State.
The donation is part of efforts to stabilise USAID’s ongoing efforts and engagement of the private sector in Nigeria’s health sector in the state to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The test kits will support antenatal clinic services to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and provide critical HIV testing services to numerous young children and other at-risk groups.
“Our goal is to collaborate with the government of Nigeria to achieve epidemic control while creating a sustainable framework for HIV in Nigeria,” said deputy director, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis office, USAID/Nigeria, Omosalewa Oyelaran at the handover ceremony. “Today’s partnership with IHS Towers will help build the country’s capacities to be more self-sustaining and encourage local solutions.”
Kebbi State is the second state in Nigeria to benefit from this partnership with IHS, which builds on a previous contribution in Bayelsa State.
Speaking at the event, the deputy governor of Kebbi State, Samaila Dabai said “these rapid test kits will help to effectively manage the HIV and AIDS elimination programme in the state and will help improve access to quality healthcare to the people of the state.”
The United States government, through USAID, provides comprehensive care and treatment services for 691,000 people living with HIV across 17 states and distributes lifesaving antiretroviral medicines to 1.9 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
In Kebbi State, USAID through the Accelerating Control of the HIV Epidemic project provides HIV care and treatment services to more than 16,000 adults and children.
