Group Tasks Anambra Govt, Others on Consistency in Counterpart Funding Payments

By Praise Chinecherem

Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria (TB Network) has called on state governments to be consistent in fulfilling their counterpart funding obligations for Tuberculosis, HIV, and Malaria programs.

Anambra State Coordinator, Ifenyinwa Unachukwu who made the call on Saturday at a Media Roundtable brief on the C19RM CSS Project in the State said the call was necessary following limited resource mobilization for ATM programming with heavy dependence on donor funding.

She regretted that unfulfilled funding obligations had continued to create delays in program implementation at the same time weakening trust in government’s commitment to tackling the diseases.

She stressed the need to establish government ownership of the community-led monitoring framework and to develop ATM-specific financing strategy, drawing support from state, local governments as well as private sector and philanthropic actors.

“There is an urgent need to strengthen resource mobilization for HIV/AIDs, TB and Malaria in Anambra State. It’s also important for government to demonstrate political will by consistently fulfilling its counterpart funding obligations for TB, HIV, and Malaria programs.

“Improving service delivery requires stronger community-based drug distribution systems and more deliberate campaigns to reduce stigma and misinformation,” she said.

Unachukwu expressed joy over remarkable achievements the project had recorded over the past months through extensive community mobilization and sensitization.

According to her, hundreds of outreach sessions and dialogues have been held across the target LGAs, increasing awareness about TB, HIV, and Malaria, and encouraging people to access testing and treatment.

“The community-led monitoring framework has provided structured evidence of gaps in service delivery at both primary and secondary healthcare levels, which has helped to shape constructive engagement with Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (APHCDA)

“The 15 CBOs involved have been trained and empowered to play critical roles in advocacy, monitoring, and patient support, while ward development committees have equally become more active in local health governance.

“Importantly, the project has created new advocacy platforms where citizens can influence government decisions, and these efforts have re-opened important conversations around state government commitments, particularly in the area of counterpart funding for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria,” she added.

The Coordinator however highlighted other challenges facing the organization to include absence of clear budgetary lines for these ATM programs within local government health allocations making the situation more fragile.

Her words, “Uptake of ATM services is still low, due to persistent stigma, myths, and misconceptions that discourage people from presenting for screening and treatment.

“In some facilities, irregular drug supply and difficulties in last-mile distribution further hinder service delivery.

“Sustainability of the community-led monitoring (CLM) model is also a concern, as it has yet to be fully embraced by government institutions.

“Without ownership by the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, there is the risk that the gains recorded so far may not be sustained.”

Earlier, State Program Officer, Onyekachi Ololo called for institutionalization of CLM within the ASPHDA, arguing that integrating its findings into health sector planning and performance reviews would go a long way in sustaining the progress achieved.

According to him, the story of the C19RM CSS project in Anambra State is a demonstration of what communities can achieve when they are mobilized, equipped, and given the platform to speak.

“Yet it also reminds us that without sustained government commitment, particularly in the areas of funding, service delivery and ownership of accountability systems, these gains can quickly fade.

“The call to action today is therefore for all stakeholders, especially government to rise to the occasion and ensure the fight against TB, HIV, and malaria in the State remains strong, community-driven, and sustainable,” he said.

Coordinator, past women Presidents General, Bar. Ekweozor Oge commended efforts of the group towards improvement of healthcare in the communities, pledging continued collaboration to the project.