The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria remain major health issues in Nigeria.
Chukwu said this on Monday in Calabar, Cross River State, in his welcome address at the Country Coordinating Mechanism Nigeria retreat held at Tinapa Knowledge Centre.
“These three diseases: HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria are still major public health issues in our country,” he said.
He also said the incidence of drug resistant TB and extremely drug resistant TB were on the increase, adding that the ministry was doing everything possible to tackle them.
“The vertical transmission of HIV infection remains a challenge, and we are doubling our efforts to ensure that we reduce mother-to-child transmission.”
The minister said the CCM retreat was to enhance participants’ understanding of the structure and functions of the Global Fund and the CCM.
He said other objectives of the CCM retreat included setting up the stage for the development of the country concept note for interim and standard application pathways or the new funding models.
“The essence of this retreat is for all CCM members and some of our stakeholders to brainstorm and fashion out ways of maximising our resources.
“This is with a view to reducing the burden from the three big diseases-HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria,” he said.
According to him, membership of the CCM Nigeria is drawn from the public sector, private sector, civil society organisation and development partners in health.
Chukwu said the retreat offered members the opportunity to evaluate their work and re-strategise for better performance.
In his speech, the state Governor, Liyel Imoke, said the state was committed to the new Global Fund initiative in combating HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.
Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, commended the CCM for the retreat.
He said Cross River was doing everything possible to ensure the reduction of the three identified diseases in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets in 2015.
