The Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA) and Heartland Alliance Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the gains recorded in the State's HIV response through stronger collaboration, local ownership, and innovative approaches to service delivery.
The renewed commitment was expressed when the Chief Executive Officer of Heartland Alliance Nigeria, Dr Ochonye Bartholomew Boniface, paid a courtesy visit to the Agency, where he commended the Cross River State Government and CR-SACA for their continued support and partnership in advancing HIV interventions across the State.
Receiving the delegation, the Director-General of CR-SACA, Dr Charles Iwara, described the relationship between the Agency and Heartland Alliance as having grown beyond a conventional partnership into a family bond.
Dr Iwara acknowledged Heartland Alliance's longstanding contribution to the State's HIV response, noting that the partnership had provided the Agency with valuable experience while strengthening its capacity to address the HIV epidemic.
He said CR-SACA had continued to work with the State Government and development partners to consolidate the progress made in the response, while commending the Government for its support towards the development of the Agency's infrastructure and programmes.
The Director-General also highlighted the State Government's efforts towards the inclusion and empowerment of people living with HIV, noting that employment opportunities had been provided for about 900 beneficiaries.
He, however, identified the lack of National Identification Numbers (NIN) among some beneficiaries as a challenge requiring attention.
Dr Iwara disclosed that the Agency was also exploring innovative measures to strengthen local production and availability of HIV-related commodities.
According to him, CR-SACA is collaborating with a condom manufacturing company in Calabar, while discussions are also ongoing with Calipharm, which he said had secured the relevant licence, on possible collaboration with the State Government towards the production of antiretroviral medicines.
He stressed the need to strengthen community action, particularly in addressing the needs of key populations, adding that the Agency was exploring collaboration with the Carnival Commission and Tourism Bureau to promote HIV prevention and improve access to condoms in hotels across the State.
Earlier, Dr Bartholomew said Heartland Alliance had maintained a longstanding relationship with Cross River dating back to the organisation's early operations in the State around 2009.
He expressed appreciation to the State Government, CR-SACA, and other partners for their support, noting that Cross River had become a place where the organisation had built lasting relationships while contributing significantly to the development of the HIV response.
Dr Bartholomew said Heartland Alliance remained committed to ensuring that no population was left behind in accessing HIV prevention, treatment, and other essential health services.
He emphasised the importance of health equity, urging stakeholders to ensure that HIV services remained accessible to all populations, including key populations, without discrimination or prejudice.
The Heartland Alliance CEO also called for a carefully managed transition and integration of donor-supported HIV programmes to prevent disruptions in treatment and other essential services.
He clarified that the closure of one U.S.-government-funded project should not be interpreted as the end of Heartland Alliance's operations, explaining that the organisation had successfully navigated previous project closures and transitions.
He expressed optimism that the organisation would secure new opportunities and partnerships with international development organisations, while acknowledging the need for stakeholders in the HIV response to reorganise and adapt to the changing funding landscape.
"We are going on, and we are hoping that at the end of the day some of these initiatives we have will take us to a point where even if projects are ending, we will not be shaken too much. We will reorganise and move on," he said.
Dr Bartholomew further underscored the importance of sustainable HIV prevention interventions, particularly continued access to condoms, noting that local availability of prevention commodities would help strengthen the State's HIV response.
Also speaking, Mr John Eseiwara of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department, CR-SACA, described the relationship between the Agency and its implementing partners as one built on mutual support and cooperation.
He noted that partners had, on several occasions, provided logistical and transportation support to facilitate programme activities, describing such assistance as evidence of a partnership that extended beyond formal meetings and engagements.
He appreciated Heartland Alliance for its continued support and wished the organisation success as it seeks to expand its interventions.
The engagement reaffirmed the shared commitment of CR-SACA, Heartland Alliance, and other stakeholders to protecting the gains achieved in Cross River's HIV response, advancing local sustainability and ensuring uninterrupted access to quality HIV prevention and treatment services for all populations.
Asari Eso
