ANSACA Launches Telehealth Service To Expand HIV Care Across Anambra
Residents of Anambra can now access HIV information, counselling and referrals remotely as the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) launches a new Telehealth Service and its maiden newsletter.
Unveiled in Awka on Tuesday, the initiative is designed to bridge gaps caused by distance, stigma and limited access to reliable HIV information and services.
ANSACA Executive Director/Project Manager, Dr Nkem Okeke, said the confidential Telehealth platform would provide guidance on HIV testing, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), treatment adherence and referrals to appropriate health facilities.
He said about 176 facilities offering free HIV services across the state had been linked to the referral pathway, allowing callers to access services closest to them.
Okeke also disclosed that ANSACA had tested more than 2,500 people since April through community outreaches, workplaces, motor parks, tertiary institutions and other targeted interventions.
Speaking at the launch, Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, commended the agency for using digital innovation to improve access to healthcare, while keynote speaker, Prof Ifeoma Njelita, stressed the need to prioritise privacy, confidentiality, consent and data security in digital health services.
The maiden newsletter will document ANSACA’s programmes, partnerships and milestones, while the Telehealth Service is expected to strengthen the link between communities and HIV prevention, treatment and support services.
Okeke reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to achieving an AIDS-Free Anambra by 2030, with zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero stigma and discrimination.
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