The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has urged for greater investment and unified efforts to stop the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis from mothers to their children. During a high-level meeting in Awka, she emphasized that this target is within reach if all parties remain dedicated to the cause.
The event, titled “Synergizing Efforts Towards Triple Elimination,” brought together the state’s Ministry of Health, the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, and the Trinity Healthcare Foundation. Dr. Soludo noted that her organization, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, prioritizes preventive care, arguing that early detection and antenatal services are more effective than later medical interventions.
Praising the state government’s free antenatal care initiative, she highlighted how thousands of expectant mothers are receiving critical screenings. She called upon religious leaders, community heads, and healthcare workers to work together to reduce social stigma and improve awareness.
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, stated that while HIV prevention has advanced, the focus must now sharpen on diagnosing and treating hepatitis B and syphilis within the existing free antenatal framework. Dr. Bonos Mohammed of the WHO promised continued support for these efforts, while State AIDS Programme Coordinator Dr. Tonia Mbagwu reported recent data showing 20 positive cases of syphilis and 117 cases of hepatitis B among pregnant women, underscoring the urgency of the campaign.
