Follow Us on Google
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
A civil society organisation, the AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, ATM Network says poverty is severely impacting on the prevalence of tuberculosis , HIV and Malaria in Nigeria.
Pastor Effiong Udobong, the State coordinator of the Civil Society for Malaria Control Immunization and Nutrition, ACOMIN, disclosed this in Calabar while presenting a media brief on the activities of ATM Network in Cross River.
He said the high under five Malaria mortality rate for instance is largely attributed to out of pocket expenses and addressing these challenges and addressing these challenges requires systemic efforts.
According to him, “HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria disproportionately affect vulnerable populations due to socioeconomic disparities.
” Socioeconomic factors significantly impact the prevalence of Malaria, HIV and TB infections and these diseases are closely tied to poverty
“In Nigeria, the high under five Malaria mortality rate is largely attributed to out of pocket expenses and this discourages care seeking behaviour.
“Addressing these challenges requires systemic efforts to improve access, affordability and awareness”, he said.
He added that by integrating communities and civil society organizations, CSOs into the healthcare response, everyone can contribute to achieving positive results.
Also speaking Rev. Sunday Eminue, the ATM state Coordinator of the Network of people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN said the ATM Network is helping to strengthen selected primary health centres to see how they can better cater for people with these diseases.
Dr. Jonah Bassey, the state director of public health in Cross River State said the diseases are of grave public concern in the state.
He said the ATM Network in the state had helped to control the diseases by ensuring access to healthcare at the primary level.
The ATM Networks comprises TB Network, NEPWHAN and ACOMIN and are collaborating with the National Agency For the Control Of AIDS, NACA on the COVID -19 Response Mechanism/Resilient and Sustainable System for Health (C19RM) Grant.
