Acting on key service delivery gaps identified through the Community-led Monitoring (CLM) project, the State Advocacy Team of ACOMIN Taraba State has intensified its advocacy efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
During its advocacy engagements on Wednesday, the team advocated on two major concerns raised by the various Community Accountability Teams on the lack of HIV testing services in several primary health facilities, and the dilapidated infrastructure of the Garin Dogo Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) in Lau LGA.
Led by the ACOMIN State Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Danburam, the team visited the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA) to advocate for the supply of HIV test kits to some affected facilities.
On HIV Testing Services; the State Advocacy Team highlighted the absence of HIV testing services at Eneme Health Clinic (Kurmi LGA), Ananum PHCC (Donga LGA), Manya PHCC (Takum LGA), and Jauro Ibrahim PHCC (Bali LGA).
The team emphasised that the absence of HIV case finding, especially during antenatal care (ANC), threatens progress in controlling HIV spread and linkage to treatment.
In her response, the HIV Focal Person at TSPHCDA, Hajiya Bilkisu Jalo, appreciated the advocacy visit, and assured that the issues advocated would be presented to partners for prompt attention and resourcing.
On dilapidated state of Garin Dogo PHCC, the advocacy team, in a meeting with the Focal Person for the IMPACT Project for Taraba State at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Taraba State Office, Bala Uten Awudu, advocated for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the facility to stage two, which includes: fencing, water, and electricity.
The team explained that the facility has operated for years in a community-donated structure without government-built infrastructure. He lamented that the deteriorating structure exposes patients to vectors like mosquitoes, especially during the rainy season, hampering effective service delivery.
Responding, Awudu commended ACOMIN for its evidence-based and community-driven advocacy, affirming that the request will be prioritized under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and under IMPACT Project if the Project is extended.