“Nigeria has one of the largest HIV burden in the world with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV as at 2018,” the Programme Officer of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Foundation, Pharm. Ijeoma Nwankwo, has disclosed.
While speaking, the Programme Officer also explained that in 2018, about 67 per cent of People Living with HIV, (PLHIV), know their HIV status in Nigeria.
“ The operational guidelines for the delivery of HIV self-testing in Nigeria was disseminated in December, 2018,” she said
She made the assertion during a one-day Orientation of Community Pharmacists on Pre-Exposure prophylaxis of HIV (PrEP), and HIV Self-Testing in Nigeria in Kaduna yesterday.
While she also said that HIV self-testing can be administered by anyone in private of one’s room or anywhere. And by the time he knows his status, should be able to easily access free healthcare.
In his remarks, the Programme Director, PSN Foundation, Munir Elelu, explained that easy access to self-testing kits could reduce HIV prevalence in Nigeria.
“HIV Self-Testing, (HIVST) is a process whereby an individual collects his or her specimen, performs a test and interprets the results, often in a private setting either alone or with someone he or she trust,” the Programme Director explained.
At the one day orientation programme, Elelu explained that the programme is to increase access to HIV self-testing kits. While also saying that the programme is in line with the United Nations’ AIDS programme goal to ensure that 95 per cent of the population know their HIV status and should also be able to access healthcare.
In his comments, he said: “that’s why we are alerting community pharmacists to be on the look out and be part of this UN goal of reducing HIV prevalence in the country.
“This goal is universal, and we feel that in our community the first point of call for most people seeking healthcare is the community pharmacists. That is why we are orientating our community pharmacists to know how to increase access to these HIV self-testing kits.”
