Akwa Ibom State Launches HIV Impact Survey to Improve Healthcare Services
The Akwa Ibom State government has embarked on a comprehensive survey to assess the effectiveness of its HIV programs and improve healthcare services in the state. The Nigeria State-level Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey, which kicked off in August and will run until September, aims to evaluate the progress of HIV treatment and care services in the state.
The survey, supported by the Federal Government and international partners such as the United States President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Public Health Information Surveillance Solution Systems (PHIS3), will target 3,000 households and interview approximately 5,346 individuals between the ages of 15 and 64. The tests will determine the proportion of individuals living with HIV who are receiving lifesaving ART and the percentage of those already on treatment whose viral load has been suppressed, making them unable to transmit the virus to others.
The data collected from the survey will inform health policies and strategies to enhance HIV testing, treatment, and care services in the state. The exercise will also help identify systemic challenges and opportunities for strengthening health systems to better support individuals living with HIV.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh, emphasized the importance of the survey in controlling and ending the HIV epidemic in Akwa Ibom State. He urged residents to cooperate with the visiting teams and provide the necessary information and opportunity to conduct HIV tests, ensuring the success of the exercise.
The survey’s findings will play a crucial role in shaping the state’s healthcare policies and strategies, ultimately improving the wellbeing of its citizens.
