Abuja:The TB Network has urged for continued investment in Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (I-CLM) amid declining donor funding for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria programs. Nathaniel Salifu-King, Chair of the TB Network in the Federal Capital Territory, emphasized this need during a media roundtable.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Global Fund GC7 I-CLM Project is being executed by the TB Network in collaboration with the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), alongside the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. The project aims to enhance community participation, strengthen accountability, and address healthcare delivery gaps.
Salifu-King highlighted that the initiative empowers communities to identify barriers to accessing HIV, TB, and malaria services, enabling them to collaborate with healthcare providers and stakeholders to advocate for practical solutions. The project has achieved successes in community mobilization, infrastructure support, and improved healthcare access within the FCT.
He called for increased government and community support to sustain the I-CLM initiative, emphasizing the need for economic inclusion and people-centered healthcare to ensure that poverty and stigma do not hinder access to essential health services.
Samuel Simon, State Programme Officer of the TB Network, pointed out manpower shortages as a significant challenge for health facilities, noting that some rely heavily on volunteers due to insufficient permanent staff. He also mentioned the ongoing issue of supply shortages, although recent support has improved the availability of TB drugs.
Nneka Eze, State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the FCT TB and Leprosy Control Programme, underscored the need for greater government ownership of health interventions due to diminishing donor funds. She advocated for increased government funding to ensure the availability of essential testing materials and drugs, stressing the importance of sustaining these health programs.