HPDP II project scores 96% in private sector engagement
The second HIV/ AIDS Programme Development Project (HPDP II) has scored over 96% in its engagement with the private sector, among other achievements .
Private sector engagement is part of the second component of the project which is aimed at expanding the response of civil society organizations and private health facilities to deliver HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support activities.
Component one of the project is expanding the public sector response to HIV/AIDS while component three is strengthening mechanisms for project coordination and management.
The Federal Government had received credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the implementation of the project. It was to support the national response in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and developed by experts from both Nigeria and the World Bank.
The HPDP II Project was implemented in the 36 states of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The National Coordination Office Abuja commenced implementation June, 2011 and closed on 28th February 2017.
A report by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) said under the private engagement, a total of 376 sites have been activated out of a target of 390 sites, bringing achievement to over 96%. There was none at the beginning of the project.
Also over 200,000 pregnant women have been counseled, tested and received their results from that program.
On the engagement with civil society organizations, the project supported the development of a mapping of CSOs in Nigeria to identify their locations, areas of focus and monitor their activities.
The report said “the civil society engagement contributed significantly to the achievement of the following target indicators:
Number of women and men aged 15-49 who were tested for HIV in the last 12 months and who knew their results: The target was to reach 10 million people. But at the end of the project, over 25 million persons have been counseled, tested and received their results.
Number of new Most-At-Risk Populations (MARPs) reached with Minimum Prevention Package of Intervention (MPPI): 10,000 people was the set target . That has been well surpassed with up to 120,000 people reached in some subgroups.”
Initially 13 federal ministries
HIV incidence is falling in Nigeria
were engaged in the project under component one which is expanding the public sector response to HIV/AIDS. Following the mid-term review of the project from October 30 to November 15 2013, the benefiting line ministries were streamlined from 13 to 4. They were the Ministries of Health, education, sports and youth development and, women affairs and social development, both at federal and state levels.
Specific achievements based on the project development objectives and the targets set for the project are:
Ministries of Health
Indicator:- Number of health facilities that provided HIV counseling and testing services.
Over 8,308 health facilities were supported to provide HIV testing services up from 1600. In addition, 1,320 health facilities were supported to provide
Nprevention-of-mother-to-child transmission services. The program targeted pregnant women that are HIV Positive to ensure that they give birth to babies that are and will remain HIV negative.
Ministry of Education
Indicator: - Number of schools provided with life skills-based HIV education. While the target was only 30, all the 104 schools at the federal level are providing life skillsbased HIV education. This is in addition to 2,281 schools that implemented the skills-based HIV education at the state level.
Ministry of Women Affairs
• Over 7,500 orphansand-vulnerable-children were reached with support service through the project
• Over 2,150 people that provided support and care to orphans were enrolled in long-term income-generating training.
• Over 47,600 People Living with HIV were provided with a minimum of one care.
State Ministries of Youth Development
Anti-HIV/AIDS Community Development Service (CDS) group outreaches were created among NYSC members. These groups conducted outreaches and at least 15,848 persons were counseled, tested and received results from the Anti-HIV/AIDS CDS group outreaches.
For component three, strengthening mechanisms for project coordination and management., achievements recorded include: Coordinating agencies (State Agencies for the Control of AIDS) have been established in all the 36 states and FCT. These state agencies have been backed by appropriate laws to institutionalize them and have been put under their respective Governing Boards. The project facilitated the recruitment of qualified and experienced staff and further built their capacities over the years. Local Agencies for the Control of AIDS (LACAs) have been established in 730 out of 774 LGAs of the federation
Also over 1,300 health workers were trained to provide HIV services to the people.