The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. (Mrs.) Monsurat Adeleke, has urged Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the State, to embrace HIV and Universal prevention practices in the delivery of their Ante-Natal and Obstetric services while abiding by COVID-19 infection prevention control.
Dr. Adeleke stated this at the closing ceremony of the last batch of the sensitisation workshop for 100 registered TBAs on HIV prevention and the Prevention of Mother-To-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, noting that the Agency has sensitised over 1500 registered TBAs in the past, making a total of 1600 TBAs sensitised across the State.
She opined that the collaboration with TBAs will enable the Agency to attain its goal of achieving HIV free generation and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 initiative, aimed at achieving the elimination of new HIV infections by the year 2030, through the reduction of the vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child.
While advising the TBAs to maintain personal hygiene and other non-pharmacology intervention for the COVID-19 prevention amongst their clients, the Chief Executive emphasised the need for the TBAs to adhere to the limitations as provided for in their operational guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, most especially the referral of HIV positive pregnant women to PMTCT facilities.
Expressing gratitude to the Lagos State Government for the sensitisation of their members, Alhaja Kuburat Osikoya from Shomolu Local Government Area said that community members patronised the TBAs because they are closer to the people.
She added that with the knowledge gained through the training, they are better informed and promised to cascade the knowledge down to others.
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