FHI Launches 13 VCT Centers in Lagos

Family Health International (FHI) in collaboration with the Lagos state government commissioned 13 integrated voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in 11 general hospitals and 2 primary healthcare centers under the coordination of the Lagos State Hospital Management Board. The centers will provide VCT services on HIV and AIDS to those who want to know their HIV status.

The VCT centers, launched on June 1, 2004, by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were established with funding from US Agency for International Development (USAID) and technical assistance from FHI as part of the U.S. government efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Dignitaries at the occasion include the Executive Governor Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; His Deputy, Mr. Femi Pedro; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Joko Pelumi; Health Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan, other members of the state executive council and members of the State House of Assembly. The governor during the commissioning of the VCT centers directed state radio and television stations to henceforth devote at least five minutes airtime daily for creating awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He also urged private electronic media to do same. While touring the VCT center, the governor, commended USAID and FHI for providing the funds and technical know-how for the establishment of the centers in collaboration with the state government.

The governor stated his determination to discourage discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS. He disclosed that he has being offering direct employment to people living with HIV into the state's civil service.

In her speech, the USAID Mission Director, Ms. Dawn Liberi, noted that "VCT has gradually evolved into a tool for curtailing the spread of HIV, a critical entry point to care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS and a valuable healthcare referral conduit for all clients." Liberi commended the opening of these new facilities, and noted that "Lagos state government ownership of this VCT program is a priority for the U.S. government and the IMPACT Project in Nigeria as well as for the Lagos state government."

Dr. Olufemi Oke, FHI Country Director, applauded the Lagos state government for being part of the various processes preceding the launch of the 13 VCT centers in Lagos and for providing the enabling environment for the take-off of the project.

The project is part of a larger USAID-supported comprehensive program being implemented by FHI in Nigeria that is, among other things, funding the scale-up to integrate voluntary counseling and testing services into existing public health facilities in Anambra, Edo, Kano Taraba and FCT in addition to Lagos. The Lagos VCT project is a part of 33 USAID-funded VCT centers that have or will become operational in 2004.

In the last three years, FHI has spent more than 3 million U.S. Dollars (about 400 million Naira) in Lagos state to support HIV/AIDS activities, including the VCT centers.