GHAIN Launches Antiretroviral Treatment Services in Nigeria

Nigeria has taken a huge step toward more effective care for HIV-positive citizens by introducing antiretroviral therapy (ART) services throughout the country. Launched by the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN) in April and May 2005, these services offer the medications free of charge at eight government-run health facilities and one private hospital. GHAIN, a five-year project managed by Family Health International, is funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

On April 8, General Hospital Calabar in Cross River State and Lagos Mainland Hospital in Lagos State were the first facilities to receive ART deliveries. Within two weeks, staff at both sites had started adherence counseling and dispensed drugs to their first clients. Later in May, services will begin at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital and the Infectious Disease Hospital (Kano State), Massey Street Children's Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (Lagos State), St. Charles Borromeo Hospital (Anambra State), Central Hospital Benin (Benin State) and Wuse General Hospital (Federal Capital Territory). In addition to comprehensive treatment, care and support, most of these facilities also provide voluntary counseling and testing, treatment for sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections – including tuberculosis – and services to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The program implements a network of care that links specialized hospitals with general hospitals, primary health care centers, community-based organizations and home-based care services, creating multiple entry points to care and treatment. To support facilities in the network and strengthen information sharing, GHAIN is working with the government of Nigeria to set up a patient management and monitoring system.

GHAIN plans to scale up treatment numbers quickly to help meet the ambitious goals of the Emergency Plan which include treating 350,000 HIV-positive people with antiretrovirals, preventing 1,145,545 new infections, and providing care and support to 1,750,000 HIV-affected individuals.

To prepare for the start of services, GHAIN trained 70 doctors and nurses at these facilities in adult and pediatric ART. GHAIN also supported efforts to upgrade and equip laboratories for CD4 testing, hematology analysis and other key functions. But introducing the drugs has involved even more extensive preparatory work to ensure success.

"ART provision goes far beyond distributing antiretrovirals," said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, GHAIN's director of medical services. "You have to provide water, electricity, furniture, machinery and prolonged training [and] in many places you have to provide the trainable personnel as well." 

GHAIN is a collaboration that includes partners from both the public and private sectors, including The Futures Group, the Centre for Development and Population Activities, the American National Red Cross, the Axios Foundation, Howard University and the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Agency.

                                                              — Margaret Dadian

Photo: Receiving GHAIN's first shipment of antiretroviral drugs. (GHAIN) View a larger image.