Reimagining Nigeria’s HIV Response Through Technology, Human–centered Care

When 28-year-old Funmi Ajayi (not her existent name) archetypal tested affirmative for HIV successful 2019, her biggest fearfulness wasn’t death, it was being seen astatine the clinic.

“I utilized to hold until closing clip to cod my drugs. Sometimes, I would conscionable skip appointments,” she recalled.

That fearfulness astir outgo her life. But successful 2023, a wellness idiosyncratic visited her location aft her sanction appeared connected a caller integer tracking system, LAMIS Plus, utilized to show clients and forestall attraction interruptions.

“They told maine my record showed I hadn’t collected my medicine for 2 months. They helped maine restart, and present I cod my refill astatine a adjacent pharmacy. I don’t person to spell acold oregon interest astir being seen,” she says.

In Bayelsa’s riverine communities, a 32-year-old fisherman, Timi Preye faced his ain battle.

Diagnosed with HIV successful 2022, helium feared rejection from his tight-knit community. “I didn’t cognize however to archer anyone,” helium stated.

Nigeria continues to transportation 1 of the world’s largest HIV burdens, though advancement has been singular successful caller years.

According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and UNAIDS, the country’s HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 present stands astatine 1.3 percent, a large diminution from erstwhile years. This translates to astir 1.8 cardinal radical surviving with HIV, with women and young radical disproportionately affected.

That is wherever caller initiatives similar the Accelerating Control of the HIV Epidemic (ACE-6) task (a task that combined technology, human-centred care, and system-wide betterment to guarantee nary 1 is near behind), comes in.

The ACE-6 project, a five-year USAID-funded initiative, is its cornerstone successful Lagos, Bayelsa, and Edo, covering 37 Local Government Areas (LGAs): 11 successful Lagos, 8 successful Bayelsa, and 18 successful Edo.

Launched successful 2022, to accelerate Nigeria’s extremity of ending AIDS by 2030, ACE-6 targets wide populations (e.g., women and men successful transit corridors), precedence groups (e.g., adolescents, azygous mothers, trafficking survivors), and pediatric groups (e.g., children of cardinal populations).

Led by HALG successful consortium with Pathfinder International, KNCV Nigeria, and others, the task integrates exertion and human-centred care. Digital tools similar LAMIS Plus streamline lawsuit records, portion innovations similar Plasma Separation Cards and AI-driven hazard stratification heighten investigating and lawsuit finding.

By 2025, HALG’s efforts contributed to 2.17 cardinal HIV tests, 34,264 caller positives initiated connected ART, and a 96 percent viral suppression rate. Additional impacts see 29,698 radical connected Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and 29,357 women screened for cervical cancer.

In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercialized hub, ACE-6 operates successful densely populated LGAs similar Ajeromi-Ifelodun, wherever Ajayi received care. The project’s digitalization reduced viral load investigating times from 30 days to three, improving outcomes for thousands. Community outreach and backstage assemblage partnerships guarantee entree successful municipality slums and transit corridors.

In Bayelsa, the task navigates logistical challenges of riverine areas, similar Chidi’s village, utilizing mobile clinics and community-led testing. Integration of GBV effect and access-to-justice components addresses holistic needs, portion partnerships with accepted leaders boost engagement successful distant settings.

In Edo state, ACE-6 task supports 18 LGAs with Differential Service Delivery models, bringing attraction person to communities. Enhanced illustration logistics and information systems guarantee timely testing, portion lawsuit managers trim lawsuit hold times.

The imperishable caput of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, described ACE-6 arsenic a catalyst for the integer translation of wellness services.

According to him, the digitalization of clients’ records done LAMIS Plus importantly enhanced programme information prime and improved the wide absorption of lawsuit information. “Beyond the numbers, it helped way viral load samples, travel up with clients, and streamline effect management, straight improving diligent outcomes,” helium stated.

Ogboye emphasized that Lagos plans to prolong the project’s gains by integrating HIV services into the State Health Insurance Scheme and promoting home assets mobilization. “We are processing a blueprint to see HIV services successful our security package. Our extremity is to trim reliance connected donors and instrumentality afloat ownership of the HIV response,” helium explained.

Lagos state’s reproductive wellness coordinator, Dr. Victoria Omoera, added, “The task didn’t conscionable springiness america integer tools, it changed however we deliberation astir care. Now we tin way patients much effectively, trim waiting times, and guarantee nary 1 is mislaid to follow-up. The quality interaction is disposable successful each clin...