The Plateau State Government has expressed deep concern on the issue of ensuring the distribution of qualitative and affordable medicines for citizens of the state, especially for those living with HIV/AIDS.
This is quite possible, especially now that the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (DMCMA) has commenced operations.
Speaking at the temporary office of the agency, the Executive Secretary, Pharm Fabian Y. Agwo during an advocacy visit to the agency by the APIN Public Health Initiative, an NGO which has been operating in Plateau State for about two decades now, he explained that the Plateau State Government has keyed into the mandate of the agency to ensure it goes into full operations, and is well accommodated in its permanent office in January 2024.
Agwo said, the situation where “people end up dying because they are not able to afford simple medicines,” is over. This, he says, is a matter of great concern to the government, which is working hard to see that the agency goes into full operation, thereby ensuring that prices of drugs and medicines are brought down to much more affordable rates, which in turn would ensure that people live well and enjoy their lives.
Earlier on, Dr Kelechi Ngokwe, Head of the Benue office of APIN Public Health Initiative who led the delegation, comprising the NCD Integration Team from their headquarters in Abuja, and heads of the venue and Plateau offices, spoke about their mission to the agency.
He said, so far they have provided care for their clients to the extent that they are no longer afraid of AIDS related deaths anymore. Explaining further, he said that they have had a comprehensive way of managing them to the point where they are more focused on making sure their clients know their status, take their drugs and ensure they monitor their viral load count.
Ngokwe said that mostly, they are managing their clients for things like hypertension, diabetes and the like. He said, prior to now, “most of the drugs they’ve gotten were free.”
The team was in the DMCMA on the advocacy visit to seek ways of collaboration and partnership for the benefit of the clients who are citizens of the state.
APIN Public Health Initiative is a leading Nigerian Non Governmental Organization known for the provision, care and treatment services to people living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases of public health importance.
