Shortage of HIV/AIDS Testing Kits Hit Taraba

The Taraba State chapter of the Association of Civil Society Organizations for Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has raised concerns over the acute shortage of HIV/AIDS testing kits in the state.

Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Taraba AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Essential Drug Office, and REDAID Nigeria Foundation, ACOMIN's State Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Danburam, revealed that a recent assessment of 18 Primary Healthcare Centers in Ardo-Kola, Bali, and Takum Local Government Areas showed that the facilities had completely run out of HIV/AIDS testing strips. In some of the centers visited, clients were being charged for tests, raising further concerns about accessibility.

"The shortage of testing kits will severely hinder efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state," Danburam stated, urging the state government and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action to resolve the issue.

In response, Pharm. Pinkai Bade, the State Coordinator of the Logistics Management Coordinating Unit (LMCU), acknowledged the challenges in the supply chain, attributing them to the stoppage of U.S. support to Nigeria. He, however, emphasized the need for resilience in ensuring quality service delivery, while reaffirming Nigeria's commitment to closing HIV gaps and achieving Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) by 2030.

Also speaking, Mr. Stanley Nfor, State Technical Operation Officer of REDAID Nigeria, and Bala Zungyeri, Secretary of TACA, highlighted that donors alone cannot meet the demand for test kits and other essential commodities. They stressed the need for increased government support to ensure continuous supply and accessibility of HIV/AIDS testing kits across the state.