MTCT Elimination in Kaduna: UNICEF Seeks Improve Partnership With JAPiN
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
As Nigeria and the world in general awaits Kaduna State elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) by the end of 2017, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has stressed the need for Journalists Alliance for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (JAPiN), to strengthen her collaboration with government agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring it attaining the feet.
UNICEF Kaduna, acting Field Officer, Dr. Idris Baba said this at the weekend during a Mid-year Media Review Meeting with Journalists in Kaduna.
According to Dr. Baba, “Kaduna is an MTCT elimination state, it is a pilot state from which other states in Nigeria can now learn and JAPiN is very vital to that course.
“So, can we expand JAPin in Kaduna, can we make it a bit more active? since you are the ones on ground so that we can engage better as we enter the into second half of the year.
“let’s see how we can revitalise that platform, our desire is to see that at the end of 2017, we see how much we can show towards eliminating MTCT in the State so we can scale it across the country.
“So JAPin is a very strategic platform for both monitoring and reporting PMTCT activities in Kaduna State. Our target is to ensure that we saturate every PMTCT facilities with Anti-Natal Care (ANC), services.”
Convener of the meeting, Rabiu Musa, Media and External Relations Officer, UNICEF Kaduna on his part commended journalists in the State for their support and partnership with UNICEF over the years and called for a greater commitment in attaining the set goals for children and women in the state.
He said, as for UNICEF, they are committed to implementing all the recommendations made during the meeting, adding that, the media should not always hesitate to discuss with UNICEF any area they think there should be improvement.
Rabiu, noted that UNICEF is also ready to improve her presence on various social media platforms for information sharing and advocacy to further enhance the existing relationship between her and the media.
