By: Our Reporter
The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Thursday called for urgent state intervention to cushion the impact of the United States’ withdrawal of funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), warning that thousands of residents living with HIV/AIDS may lose access to critical treatment, care, and support unless swift action is taken.
At a plenary session ppresided over by deputy speaker, Hon. Mohammed Fadeyi, the motion, which was seconded by a lawmaker representing Ibadan North West State Constituency, Hon. Dahood Olalere, formally titled “Need for Urgent State Intervention in HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care, and Support in Oyo State Following Withdrawal of PEPFAR Support” , as moved by Comforter Olajide (Ibadan North 1).
The Ibadan North Lawmaker lamented the gravity of the health crisis facing Oyo State, calling the state government to step up lifesaving services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV).
In his reaction, deputy chief whip and member Atiba State Constituency, Gbenga Oyekola raised concern as the federal government has refused to give aids following US government funds cut while over 550 ad-hoc personnel have been engaged by APIN (AIDS Public Initiative in Nigeria) to support ART services thereby increasing threat of drug shortages and service interruption.
The lawmaker representing Ibadan North East II State Constituency. Babalola warned that if there is no immediate intervention, the disruptions could lead to treatment default and viral resistance, increased HIV transmission, possible rise in avoidable deaths among PLHIV, pressure on the state’s health facilities and system, loss of productivity and social stability, and erosion of public trust in the health system.
Meanwhile the lawmakers unanimously urge the Seyi Makinde led Executive through the Ministry of Health, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), and the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, to assess and bridge treatment gaps caused by PEPFAR’s withdrawal, develop a short- to medium-term state-funded HIV/AIDS intervention strategy to sustain ART services in affected facilities, and re-engage the ad-hoc personnel previously laid off, using state resources or via public-private partnerships.
They also called for collaboration with donor agencies, NGOs, and private health investors to support PLHIV; for the House Health Committee to convene stakeholders, including networks of people living with HIV, to review the current state of care and propose sustainable solutions; and for budgetary allocations or special funding windows to ensure critical services are maintained.
