Stakeholders from religious organisations have called on the Federal Government to invest in Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) in addressing early diagnosis and treatment for HIV/AIDs positive children in the country.
The National Director, Caritas Nigeria, Mr Evaristus Bassey, made the call at the Regional Consultation on Paediatric care on HIV/AIDs Conference on Friday in Abuja.
Bassey said almost every Nigerian resident was a member of a church or mosque community and access of these institutions penetrate to most remote communities where there are no health care facilities.
He said the influence of these faith institutions on the health related decisions and behaviour of their members have proven to be significant, hence the need for government to support in funding FBOs.
The director noted that there are challenges in accessing treatment at rural communities even when the drugs are available, noting that some people are economically deprived and cannot go to the nearest health facility.
“People need to be aware that children are supposed to be tested after they are born and pregnant women need to go for antenatal care to be tested.
“Some women do not deliver with skilled birth attendants rather they go to traditional birth attendants where they are exposed to various risk with no access to testing.
“And because of the limited fund confronted by most faith organisations, there are a lot of communities we cannot reach.
“If health therefore is a right then let every Nigerian have access to health care because the resources belong to the people and not just limited to government institution,’’ Bassey said.
He said that the next largest sector providing health care in Nigeria was the faith based organisations after government institutions.
He added that if Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT), early infant diagnosis (EID) and prompt treatment for HIV positive children under 15 years could be addressed, then global progress towards HIV elimination was more assured.
However, he urged government at all levels to leverage on the influence, opportunities and strength of faith leaders and structures.
In the same vein, Dr Salisu Ismail of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, said the fight against HIV/AIDs had existed over the years with a lot of challenges in accessing treatment.
Ismail said the professional Muslim based organisation is trying its best in creating awareness and offering treatment for all diseases as well as HIV paediatric care at rural communities.
He however decried the low resources at their disposal, further urging the government to support faith based organisations in reaching out to more communities.
Ismail stated that with more funds the association could extend its campaign to all rural communities across the federation to educate Islamic scholars on the need to integrate health messages in their sermons.
He said messages such as early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDs in children, paediatrics care and consultation as well as prevention on other diseases could be integrated.
He said mobile clinics would be created at the communities where positive children can be identified, tested, counselled and placed on treatment.
(NAN)
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