The Cross River State Government has deepened its HIV response with the launch of a Pharmacy-Based HIV Service Delivery Initiative designed to bring treatment and prevention services closer to residents through accredited community pharmacies across the state.
The initiative was officially launched on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Franphinas Hotel, Calabar, by the Cross River State Ministry of Health in partnership with Maisha Meds, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).
The programme represents a strategic shift towards decentralised HIV service delivery by integrating private community pharmacies into the state’s healthcare network and establishing stronger referral linkages between pharmacies and public primary healthcare facilities.
Representing the Commissioner for Health at the launch, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Bassey Jonah Offor, said the state government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for innovative health interventions capable of improving access to quality care. “As a ministry, as a state, our responsibility is to make sure that we provide the needed enabling environment for people that are coming into the state to function and function well,” he stated.
Offor, who formally launched the initiative on behalf of the Commissioner, described the integration of community pharmacists into the state’s HIV care network as an important milestone. “It is my singular honour, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, to officially flag off and launch this community-based HIV care that has to do with ARV HIV refill projects and the PrEP process,” he declared, charging participating pharmacists to maintain proper documentation and uphold high standards of patient care.
The Country Director of Maisha Meds in Nigeria, Dr Hafeez Oluwa, explained that the initiative comprises two complementary interventions: strengthening ARV delivery through community pharmacies and expanding access to PrEP initiation.
Oluwa noted that community pharmacies and patent medicine outlets often serve as the first point of contact for people seeking healthcare, stressing the importance of formal referral linkages with primary healthcare centres to ensure patients receive appropriate and quality care.
The Programme Manager for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Ministry of Health, Dr Samuel Ombs, disclosed that Cross River was among four states selected to participate in the Maisha Meds expansion programme, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and EJAF.
Ombs said the two-year intervention would see the ARV refill component run until 2027 and the PrEP component until 2028, adding that the programme would complement existing state efforts to improve HIV treatment and prevention services.
Under the HIV ARV Refill Project, stable people living with HIV will be able to obtain their antiretroviral medicines from licensed community pharmacies linked to public health facilities, providing a more convenient option for routine medication refills.
The PrEP/PEP Initiation Project will provide oral pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis through trained and accredited community pharmacies to individuals requiring HIV prevention services, including people in discordant relationships, sex workers, men who have sex with men, adolescents and adult women.
Director-General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr Charles Iwara, emphasised the importance of sustained community sensitisation, grassroots mobilisation and inter-agency collaboration to ensure HIV prevention information and services reach vulnerable populations across all local government areas.
Representing the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Sunday I. Ite stressed the importance of effective linkages between primary healthcare facilities and accredited community outlets, including clear referral pathways and continuous availability of healthcare commodities. The State Director of ECEWS, Umo-Nsang Joe, also highlighted the role of implementing partners in strengthening state systems, data management and service continuity.
Also speaking, Raymond Abugieye, who represented the Director-General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Chief Dr Godwin Iyala, advocated the integration of community-based HIV services into broader state health insurance frameworks to improve financial protection and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients.
Closing the event, the Programme Manager for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Mary-Treasure Amah, appreciated the participating institutions and development partners for their commitment to expanding accessible community-based healthcare in Cross River State.
The launch attracted senior officials and technical experts from the Ministry of Health, SACA, CRSPHDA and CRSHIA, alongside representatives of Maisha Meds, ECEWS, CHAI, CCCRN, Heartland Alliance, NEPWHAN, ACPN, UCTH and participating community pharmacies. Stakeholders were also briefed on emerging innovations, including artificial intelligence-driven testing kits and once-weekly oral tablet regimens currently undergoing final trial phases.
By Kingsley Agim
