The Lagos State Government, through the State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), has commenced the sensitization and training of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the five divisions of the State on “90-90-90 initiative” and Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, Service Linkages and Universal Precautions.
Speaking at the opening of the training programme, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Agency, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, said it was important for the Agency to sensitize the TBAs and other stakeholders as part of efforts to achieve the set objectives of reducing and eradicating the scourge by 2020.
The CEO said there is the need to scale-up the implementation strategies to achieve the 90-90-90 initiative of getting 90 per cent of the population counseled and tested for HIV, while 90 percent of those that test positive would be able to access Anti-retroviral therapy and 90 per cent of same able to suppress viral load in order not be able to infect others.
He noted that the TBAs and their clients form part of the target population that are important to HIV response in the State.
The CEO implored the TBAs to always observe universally accepted precautions of washing their hands regularly before and after attending to
clients as well as maintain clean environment at their work places.
Dr. Temowo stressed that the provision of PMTCT services by the formal and informal care providers outside the hospital or facility settings, usually within rural communities, would assist in no small measure in the course of the Agency HIV response, noting that Mother-to-Child Transmission occurs during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding stages.
