ACOMIN Engages OSACA on Barriers to HIV Testing and Counsel ling in Health Facilities
…Civil Society Urges Action on Facility-Level Gaps After Assessment Across Osun…
The Accountability of Civil Society on Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition, ACOMIN, Osun State has called for urgent action to address barriers affecting access to HIV testing and counselling services in health facilities across the state.
The call followed an Advocacy visit by ACOMIN to the Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS, OSACA, led by the ACOMIN State Chairman Dr. Ambassador Aremu Stephen Akinyele, and the State Programme Officer, Mr. David Amoto.
The engagement was based on facility-level assessment conducted by the ACOMIN team to identify challenges and service delivery gaps hindering people from accessing essential HIV services in the state.
The ACOMIN team presented findings on key barriers to HIV testing, pre-test counselling, and post-test counselling, and the discussion also examined factors contributing to low service uptake and their implications for the overall quality of care provided to clients.
ACOMIN emphasized the need to address facility-level gaps and strengthen client-centred approaches to HIV service delivery.
Particular attention was placed on ensuring that individuals can access testing and counselling in an environment that is accessible, confidential, supportive, and responsive to their needs.
The meeting also focused on identifying practical and sustainable interventions to address the documented barriers, while ACOMIN stressed the importance of translating evidence from the facility level into actionable interventions that can improve service delivery and increase uptake of HIV testing and counselling.
In their response OSACA represented by the Director Admin and Supply Mr Yinka Adeleke acknowledged the issues raised and expressed commitment to bold and deliberate steps to address the identified barriers.
The agency indicated its readiness to review the assessment findings and explore appropriate interventions to strengthen HIV service delivery across facilities in Osun State.
ACOMIN and OSACA reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between civil society and government in strengthening the state’s HIV response, and the engagement also highlighted how evidence from facility assessments can inform advocacy, decision-making, and targeted interventions.
The agencies reiterated its continued engagement towards closing identified gaps and improving access to quality, timely, and client-centred HIV testing and counselling services across Osun State.
ACOMIN said it remains committed to evidence-driven advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative action aimed at reducing barriers to HIV services.