Recent Findings in HIV/AIDS Described by Researchers from University of Nigeria (Progress In the Face of Cuts: a Qualitative Nigerian Case Study of Maintaining Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage After Losing Donor Assistance): Immune System Diseases and Conditions – HIV/AIDS

2021 OCT 04 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Vaccine Daily -- Fresh data on Immune System Diseases and Conditions - HIV/AIDS are presented in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Enugu, Nigeria, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “In the coming years, about a dozen middle-income countries are excepted to transition out of development assistance for health (DAH) based on their economic growth. This anticipated loss of external funds at a time when there is a need for accelerated progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) is a source of concern.”

Financial support for this research came from CGIAR.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Nigeria, “Evaluating country readiness for transition towards country ownership of health programmes is a crucial step in making progress towards UHC. We used in-depth interviews to explore: (1) the preparedness of the Nigerian health system to transition out of DAH, (2) transition policies and strategies that are in place in Nigeria, (3) the road map for the implementation of these policies and (4) challenges and recommendations for making progress on such policies. We applied Vogus and Gratis expanded transition readiness framework within the Nigerian context to synthesize preparedness plans, gaps, challenges and stakeholders’ recommendations for sustaining the gains of donor-funded programmes and reaching UHC. Some steps have been taken to integrate and institutionalize service delivery processes toward sustainable immunization and responsive primary healthcare in line with UHC. There are ongoing discussions on integrating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services with other services and the possibility of covering HIV services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). We identified more transition preparedness plans within immunization programme compared with HIV programme. However, we identified gaps in all the nine components of the framework that must be filled to be able to sustain gains and make significant progress towards country ownership and UHC. Nigeria needs to focus on building the overall health system by identifying systematic gaps instead of continuing to invest in parallel programmes. Programmes need to be consolidated within the overall health system, health financing priorities and policies.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “A comprehensive and functional structure will provide continuity even in the event of decreasing external funds or donor exits.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Progress In the Face of Cuts: a Qualitative Nigerian Case Study of Maintaining Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage After Losing Donor Assistance. Health Policy and Planning, 2021;36(7):1045-1057. Health Policy and Planning can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - http://www.oup.com/; Health Policy and Planning - heapol.oxfordjournals.org)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Uche Shalom Obi, University of Nigeria, College of Medicine, Health Policy Research Group, Unth Rd, Enugu 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria. Additional authors for this research include Obinna Onwujekwe, Gavin Yamey, Osondu Ogbuoji, Wenhui Mao and Minahil Shahid.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab051. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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