Leader of the NACA/World Bank team, Mrs Doris Ekeh did not say her view as at press time but it was observed they were impressed by the briefs from the Executive Director Anambra State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ANSACA), Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim. The meeting featured deliberations on the extension of the HPDP-2 and activities that will enhance the Prevalence rate in the State as well as how to mitigate them.
The meeting also was to strengthen what ANSACA is doing for programme efficiency and help strengthen the states intervention towards decreasing prevalence of HIV in the state.
But speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the meeting, the Executive Director Anambra State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ANSACA), Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim said Governor Willie Obiano’s administration has emnarked on pro active projects in the State in line with its vision of being a foremost platform for the control of HIV/AIDS in the State.
Dr Ibezim noted that the Agency under his watch is poised to record landmark feats that will curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Anambra State in accordance with the mandate from Governor Obiano despite the challenges of the current global economic crunch.
He said: ‘’The ANSACA Office has been operating without electricity supply for three (3) years but we have successfully restored electricity and the Staff is once again operating under conducive working conditions. This has also increased our productivity. This feat was achieved courtesy of the office of Her Excellency, the Wife of the Executive Governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, whose office superintends ANSACAs’ activities. She provided us with a connection of the electricity.
‘’At present there are 43 treatment facilities providing free Anti Retroviral drugs, and over 300 PMTCT facilities supported by the FHI 360 through the SIDHAS project and PPFN in the state.
ANSACA Dr Ibezim informed organized a residential workshop on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) lectured by NACA facilitators on the ways of curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, different rape situations and legal actions to be taken in these situations with participants drawn from different Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals.
He added that the Workshop also featured a UNDP sponsored section on Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PHA).
‘’This featured sharing of experiences among the persons living with HIV/AIDS. The impact of this session was that they were exposed to effective resistance of stigmatization, healthy living, importance CD4 Count and check when necessary, adherence to prescribed drugs, etc’’, he added.
ANSACA equally attended a World Bank on Environmental Social Safeguard meeting to ensure safeguard in every World Bank project before implementation and necessary measures to be applied in situation of challenges during the life span of the project.
The Executive Director further encouraged the entire Staff to continue with their team spirit attitude which has impacted on the productivity of the agency, while charging all departments to develop plans of action that will fit into the general Work Plan.
He said on assumption of office the Agency has removed the shanty located adjacent to the Agency building which housed discarded items adding that the items ranging from Refrigerators, Furniture, Cartons of expired Condoms, etc, were relocated to the Central Medical Store after proper documentation.
He recalled that ANSACA in collaboration with the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), organized a road show featuring television and radio interviews by the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) with more than 200 participants gathered at the ABS Complex where holistic lectures on HIV/AIDS were delivered by ANSACA Staff.
He added that through the March, effective sensitization and creation of awareness on HIV/AIDS was carried out. This was achieved through distribution of fliers, on-the-spot counseling, amongst others. The programme which recorded a huge success ended by 3.30 PM. Participants were treated to refreshments.
Dr Ibezim further said: ‘’the NACA Supportive Supervision to Anambra State took place and the team accessed the SACA team to enable them write a comprehensive for extension of the Project.
‘’A debriefing meeting was held between the Executive Director of ANSACA and the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Executives (Anambra State Chapter). The essence of the meeting was to sensitize the support group the need to adhere strictly on their ARVs drugs and constant check of viral load also the need for the general public to stop stigmatization.
‘’The Support Service Organization (SSO) visited us to deliberate on CSOs achievement so far. SSO’s are support organization engaged by NACA to oversee their Project and report back to them.
There was also a visit by the NACA/World Bank on Safeguard and Environmental Management to discuss the modalities in facilitating effective and efficient execution of environmental social safe guard in HIV/AIDS Project.
‘’The was series of meetings which enhanced cordial relationship between ANSACA and its coordinating units.
A Debriefing Meeting was also held with 21 LACA Managers and 21 M&E Officers, 7 Project Managers of CSOs and 7 Finance Officers.
It would be recalled that the Anambra State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS [ANSACA] was established by an Act of the Anambra State House of Assembly on the 16th day of April 2007.
It was accented to by the then Executive Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi on the 18th day of May 2007. It is charged with coordinating the state’s multi-sectorial responses on HIV/AIDS. It has a budget line in the Office of the Governor with support from foreign donors as the case may be. It also houses the State Council on HIV/AIDS chaired by Her Excellency, the Wife of the Executive Governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.
Within ANSACA is domiciled the Anambra State HIV Program Development Project – 2, which is a World Bank $5m Credit (2011 – 2015) with the Project Development Objective “to increase access to and utilization of HIV prevention interventions, care and support services”
ANSACA has 3 components including the Public Sector Response (Line Ministries and LACAs) ($1.5m); Expanding the Civil Society and Private Sector Interventions ($1.75m) and Capacity Building ($1.75).
The Anambra State responses to infectious diseases started 1988 with the setting up of a State AIDS Control Programme (SASCP). Since then various HIV/AIDS programs addressing different thematic areas are currently running in the state. At present there are 43 treatment facilities providing free Anti Retroviral drugs, and over 300 PMTCT facilities supported by the FHI 360 through the SIDHAS project and PPFN. Other development partners and NGOs like SFH, UNDP, UNICEF also support various interventions.
Photo captions
Photo 1. Cross section of ANSACA and ABS team during a courtesy visit to ABS by ANSACA team led by ANSACA Executive Director , Dr Ibezim on Detroit T-Shirt flanked left by Nze Uche Nworah , MD of ABS
Photo 2 ANSACA Executive Director in ABS studio with other guests on HIV/AIDS Programme
Photo 3. Dr Ibezim, Executive Secretary with workshop attendees
Photo 4. Match against HIV/AIDS in Anambra during awareness campaign
Photo 5. Dr Ibezim being interviewed by a team of journalists
Amazing story of Obiano’s ANSACA under Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim in Anambra
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Friday, September 30, 2016
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Reviewed by Unknown
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Friday, September 30, 2016
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