The Hon. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora (holding the microphone), and the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard (in black jacket), were supported by other dignitaries to unveil the Nigeria HIV Clinical Mentorship Program Logo during the launching of the program in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria launches the National HIV Clinical Mentorship Programme
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, described establishing the National HIV Clinical Mentorship Program (NCMP) as a significant landmark achievement for the HIV response in Nigeria and to build capacity and support HIV treatment and care service providers in an integrated approach. He made the statement at the formal launch of the U.S. Government supported Program in Abuja on Thursday, December 9, 2021.
The Minister also stated that the Nigeria HIV response had grown significantly in the last five years and that the past two years have perhaps been the most remarkable because of the resilience shown by the Program despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over 1.6 million people living with HIV on treatment, the country is firmly on the path to achieve epidemic control.
According to Dr. Mamora, the HIV Mentorship Program is coming at an excellent moment, “a time when the prospect of achieving epidemic control has become a reality and a central part of the discourse.”
After epidemic control is achieved, transitioning to a chronic HIV health care model will require PLHIVs to engage with the health care system in an ongoing relationship for the long term.
Earlier, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said achieving and sustaining HIV epidemic control has been the end goal since the U.S.-Nigerian partnership on HIV began and this mentorship program will strengthen government ownership of the HIV program – at both national and state levels – thus safeguarding sustained long-term epidemic control of HIV.
In addition, this program will provide an opportunity for healthcare workers to receive practical training while providing HIV services, using the tried, true and tested methods of continuous quality improvement in line with the current Nigeria HIV national guideline
