The Georgetown Global Health Nigeria (GGHN) and the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCRN) have begun engagements with the Kano State Government on a one-year transition of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) service delivery to CCRN.
The development was disclosed on Thursday during a working visit by a joint delegation of the organisations to the state government in Kano.
The Director-General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr Usman Bashir, introduced the delegation to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, who received them on behalf of the government.
Yusuf assured the delegation of the state government’s commitment to working with both organisations and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.
He said the government would sustain existing achievements and ensure that essential HIV and TB prevention, treatment and care services continued without disruption.
The commissioner appreciated the U.S. Government for its support through the FLASH programme and other health interventions, which he said had strengthened healthcare delivery and improved access to essential services.
He stressed the need to consolidate these gains by strengthening local ownership, building institutional capacity and equipping government structures to sustain healthcare programmes beyond the transition period.
Earlier, Bashir reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnerships with development organisations and other stakeholders to build a resilient and sustainable healthcare system. He said such collaborations were essential to ensuring continuity of care and improving health outcomes.
Dr Faith Nanlap, representing CCRN, said the transition formed part of broader efforts by the U.S. Government to transfer responsibility for the healthcare programmes it supports in Nigeria to relevant state and federal governments.
She said the initiative aimed to strengthen government ownership, integrate health services into existing structures and ensure the long-term sustainability of healthcare interventions.
Nanlap called for increased government budgetary allocations to the health sector, stronger local health systems and greater government responsibility for planning, financing and delivering essential healthcare services.
She added that collaboration between government institutions and development partners would be crucial to maintaining HIV and TB prevention, treatment and care services throughout the transition.
Joy Shalangwa, representing GGHN, said the visit was intended to improve coordination and establish the necessary arrangements for the transition within the one-year timeframe.
The transition is expected to give stakeholders time to coordinate implementation, strengthen institutional capacity and establish sustainable arrangements for continued HIV and TB service delivery in Kano State.
It is also expected to strengthen government leadership and ownership of healthcare programmes while protecting residents’ access to essential services.
