The Benue State Government has intensified efforts to safeguard HIV/AIDS treatment and sustain gains in the health sector, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deaconess (Barr.) Deborah Serumun Aber, directed the development of a costed sustainability plan within seven days at the opening of the APIN State Programme and Sustainability Performance Scorecard Review in Makurdi.

The SSG stressed that no patient should lose access to treatment due to changes in donor funding. She called for stronger government ownership, predictable domestic financing and coordinated action among ministries, agencies and development partners. She charged the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, to lead a seven-member technical team tasked with developing a prioritised and actionable sustainability plan for submission through her office, ahead of consideration at the next State Executive Council meeting.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ogwuche underscored the need to protect programme gains and strengthen the systems required to sustain essential health services. The Director-General of the Benue State Planning Commission, Professor Andohol, also urged development partners to share information on their programme portfolios and achievements with the government to strengthen coordination, improve planning and communicate the collective impact of development investments.

APIN, which has partnered with Benue State since 2004, supports HIV/AIDS services across 264 health facilities in all 23 local government areas of the state. Programme figures indicate that 183,647 people living with HIV were receiving treatment as of August 2026. Reported achievements also include 96 per cent viral-load coverage, 96 per cent viral suppression and 40,956 babies born HIV-free.

The review further highlighted the costs associated with retaining essential personnel, sustaining laboratory services and maintaining youth-focused interventions. These priorities reinforced the need for a realistic transition plan that safeguards continuity of care while strengthening the government's capacity to sustain essential services.

The Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Dr. Aondoaseer Leo-Angelo Viashima, emphasised the importance of development coordination and resource mobilisation in sustaining health sector interventions, while the Benue State Investment Promotion Agency (BENIPA) could also help explore opportunities for responsible private-sector participation in health infrastructure and service delivery.

The review highlighted the state's commitment to translating years of development partnerships into sustainable public health systems. With the SSG's seven-day directive, the government has set an immediate timeline for developing a practical sustainability roadmap for consideration by the State Executive Council.

Julie Okenyi

Information Officer