George Okoh in Makurdi
New findings have revealed that continuous quality improvement (CQI) using a Breakthrough Series (BTS) approach, increased uptake of PMTCT services and retention in care of HIV-infected pregnant women and mothers at six and 12 months postpartum have led to a reduction of mother to child transition of HIV/AIDS.
This was made known by the Principal Investigator and Chief Executive of the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP) in Nigeria, Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, at a workshop in Makurdi.
Represented by Mr. Frank Oronsaye, he maintained that the dissemination of the findings of the Lafiyan Jikin Mata (LJM) study was the climax of the whole exercise which sought to take a look at retention among HIV-positive women in care six months postpartum.
She noted that one of the highlights of the study was bringing up of definitions that those who would want to carry out a study on retention among HIV-positive mothers could research on it.
In her remark at the workshop, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo, said the findings of LJM was a strategy that would help in reducing the scourge of HIV and AIDS among women and children.
Represented by the Coordinator, State HIV and AIDS Programme, Dr. John Ugboju, the commissioner noted that the findings of the study would not only be beneficial to the state alone but the country as a whole while commending the CIHP for the study which began since 2012.
On her part, Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Isegbe Ladi Ajene, stressed the importance of women’s health, saying it was not only far beyond sexual and reproductive health but about them generally.
She promised government’s support and patronage of CIHP while commending them for the study.
