Anambra Explores Private-Sector Healthcare Expansion at Global Fund-Supported Workshop
By Chizoba Njaka
Anambra State has participated alongside Lagos, Kwara and Gombe States in a two-day technical workshop focused on strengthening the Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria services on August 14-15.
The workshop, held in Abuja, was supported by the Global Fund through the Society for Family Health (SFH) and brought together stakeholders from government ministries, agencies, parastatals, implementing organisations and non-governmental organisations.
The meeting was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the TASAD Project and examine practical ways of using the Alternative Delivery Model to expand sustainable access to essential health services through private-sector providers.
Representing Anambra were officials of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) and the State Ministry of Health, including the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke; the Director of Public Health; the State Programme Coordinator for HIV/AIDS and STIs; and the State Malaria Programme Coordinator.
In her contribution to the technical discussions, Dr. Okeke highlighted the need for Anambra to leverage the private sector in complementing government health services and reaching more people with HIV, TB and malaria interventions.
She pointed to the state’s strong commercial environment and extensive private healthcare network, comprising businesses, pharmacies, laboratories and other service providers, as an opportunity to create a broader and more sustainable healthcare delivery system.
Dr. Okeke explained that stronger public-private partnerships under the ADM framework could make essential health services more accessible, particularly to individuals and communities that do not regularly use public health facilities. She further noted that the approach could ease the burden on conventional public health service points while contributing to the sustainability of interventions addressing HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
During the workshop, the Anambra delegation also engaged in discussions on practical approaches tailored to the state, covering areas such as implementation, coordination, commodity management, data reporting, quality assurance and sustainability.
ANSACA said it would continue to collaborate with the State Ministry of Health, development partners and private-sector stakeholders in developing innovative strategies that improve access to healthcare services and promote better health outcomes across Anambra State.