Lagos State, Nigeria - Family Health International

7.9 Care and Support
Though HIV care has been recognized as a priority area in
AJIF LGA, activities so far have been targeted only
towards public enlightenment and condom distribution. A
budget of N500, 000 was provided for HIV programs in
1999/2000, but nothing was released. A LACA has been
proposed, to be staffed by the LGA health, agriculture,
education and information units. HIV care has never been
discussed at Health Department meetings, but a workshop
on HIV/AIDS prevention was held in the year 2000.
Care provision in the LGA is essentially limited to
HIV/AIDS diagnosis. If a positive diagnosis is made, both
public and private hospitals refer a patient to LUTH or
Mainland Hospital.
The first cases of AIDS were reported at the GH Ajegunle
when it began HIV screening in 1999, with rapid HIV
testing being done. Results are disclosed by the laboratory
technologist, who is not trained in HIV counselling.
Only palliative care is given. STD treatment is based on
clinical diagnoses. TB cases are referred to LUTH and the
IDH.
Screening is available in most of the private hospitals visited,
and they see an average four to 10 AIDS–related illnesses
per month. Most of the facilities say they have no
provision to deal with care of PLHA. Only one doctor had
received training in HIV care organized by the Association
of Private and General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria
and the State Ministry of Health in 1999. TB patients who
become positive for HIV are referred to teaching hospitals.
STDs are treated mainly on the basis of etiologic and clinical
diagnosis. Feedback from teaching hospitals to referring
facilities is weak.
Counselling is provided by some doctors and nurses,
though none has been trained on HIV counseling specifically.
WAAS foundation is the NGO recognized to be involved
in the provision of HIV care in the LGA. It counsells about
eight persons each month. One WAAS member received
training by SFH in 1998. The NGO also provides homebased
care for about 16 PLHA. These people have set up
a support group, but have received no external aid since
the organisation was founded five years ago.
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7.10 Conclusion
Lagos State
Ajeromi-Ifelodun is the undisputed centre for sex workers,
and information supports the general assumption
about the relationship between sex workers and the
spread of STI/HIV/AID. Any intervention program aimed
at curbing the spread of these diseases here should focus
on sex workers and, by extension, their clients – including
men with multiple sex partners, truck/bus drivers, okada
operators, mechanics, civil servants and soldiers.