As communities continue to face the challenges posed by AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, efforts to bring services to them have been intensified as part of the Community System Strengthening (CSS) with strong agreement that community participation in the response to HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria is essential to controlling these epidemics. In the HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria, community-based organizations (CBOs) and other NGOs have played a critical role. They are key providers of prevention, treatment, care and support services and have worked to create the social, political, and financial environment needed to effectively respond to the epidemic
ARFH Community System Strengthening (CSS) component of The Global Fund Round 9 Phase II HIV/AIDS Project implemented in partnership with Civil Society Organizations has continued to make significant impacts across states and communities with from January 2013- June 2015. Since the commencement of the project in January 2013, 307,100 targeted beneficiaries were reached while the capacity of 450 Community-based organizations strengthened through training and funding to provide community-based health services to the community members across the 36 states and the FCT.
Community sensitization and education including prevention education and referrals for the uptake of HIV, TB and Malaria were key services provided to communities.
CBOs working with the health facilities and community leaders organised awareness and sensitization campaigns at strategic places like markets, churches, mosques, Motor parks etc where the provided information on AIDS, TB and Malaria and referred potential clients to the health facilities. A matching following up with the potential client at the facilities is always carried out to ensure effective uptake of services at the facilities.
This has increased the speed of service bestacnedrug.com uptakes by community members across the GF supported facilities in the 36 states and FCT where the project was implemented. As the CSS component of the Round 9; Phase II grant ended on 30th June 2015, an array of achievements have been recorded which demonstrated that CSS project was an impactful project with communities at centre of implementation. Some of these achievements include;
- Improved community health systems in all States of Nigeria thereby contributing to the national health outcome through strengthening of the health system to response effectively to AIDS, TB and Malaria.
- Significant increase in community and household knowledge on Prevention of AIDS,TB and Malaria through the activities of the Community Based Organizations
- Improved in the health seeking behaviours of community members resulting in increased service uptakes across the supported health facilities.
- The linkage between communities and facilities have increased to the extent that every community is linked to a facility which make easy access to health services possible for community members
- Prior to the implementation of CSS, many CBOs operated in these communities without recognition and impact, however the CSS project provided the necessary capacity and platform for them to create the social, political, and financial environment needed to response to AIDS, TB and Malaria, thereby make considerable impacts within communities
- Improved programme management, documentation, data management and financial control for CSO and CBOs during the grant implementation
- Partnership and collaboration with State and Local government and with other key partners has been enhanced which ensures sustainability
