Abeokuta: Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has announced that over 30,000 residents living with HIV are receiving free antiretroviral therapy, counselling, and support services across various health facilities in the state. The governor made this disclosure during the inauguration of the Pharma-Grade Warehouse of the Ogun State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency in Abeokuta.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Abiodun highlighted his administration’s efforts in repositioning the state’s healthcare system for improved service delivery. He encouraged residents to seek prompt diagnosis and treatment at health facilities. The governor emphasized that the state had bolstered its HIV prevention programmes, broadened testing services, and intensified measures to curb new infections. He expressed appreciation for the Global Fund’s support in areas such as HIV treatment, tuberculosis diagnosis, malaria prevention, and the supply of essential medicines and health commodities.
Governor Abiodun pointed out that the interventions had notably aided women, children, adolescents, vulnerable groups, and underserved communities. He described the newly inaugurated warehouse as a strategic investment aimed at enhancing the storage, management, and distribution of medicines and health commodities across the state. He asserted that the facility would fortify supply chain efficiency, minimize stock-outs, and ensure the timely delivery of medicines and test kits to health facilities.
Abiodun acknowledged the ongoing public health challenges posed by HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria but remarked that sustained interventions were yielding positive outcomes. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to eradicating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and expanding tuberculosis detection through community outreach, contact tracing, and hotspot mapping. Additionally, he commended the Federal Government for its role in fortifying the health sector and pledged Ogun State’s continued alignment with national healthcare goals.
Earlier, Dr. Tomi Coker, the Commissioner for Health, mentioned that the state had acquired a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machine for drug quality testing and planned to implement technology to monitor medicine stock levels. Peter Sands, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, referred to the warehouse as a pivotal investment in healthcare delivery, noting that it was the largest and best-equipped among 22 similar facilities nationwide. Sands highlighted the project as a collaborative effort between the Global Fund and the Ogun State Government, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and strengthening the health system.
Furthermore, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Lagos Field Office, praised the medical warehouse for its role in bolstering the availability of medicines, vaccines, and other health commodities for residents. She stated that approximately 7.5 million people in Ogun, including 3.3 million children, would benefit from improved access to essential medicines and vaccines as a result of the project. Lafoucriere reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to collaborating with the government and partners to ensure the warehouse achieved its intended objectives.