Mirian Gom 
ABIA, Nigeria – Primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Abia State face gaps in HIV and tuberculosis (TB) referral and follow-up services, raising concerns about patients’ access to timely treatment.
Community-based organisations monitoring healthcare services in the state reported the gaps in their Quarter 11 Community-Led Monitoring findings, covering July to September 2026.
The findings were presented at a media roundtable in Umuahia on Monday by organisations operating under the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).
He noted that PHCs serve as the first point of contact for many rural residents. However, patients who test positive for HIV or are suspected of having TB are not always properly referred to secondary facilities or followed up.
Ikocha attributed the gaps to a shortage of referral focal persons, poor documentation and weak feedback between PHCs and referral hospitals.
He warned that these weaknesses could delay treatment and worsen healthcare access for vulnerable communities. “We are not just collecting data for reporting purposes,” Ikocha said. “We need the media to track our findings, amplify the voices of communities and ensure the government acts on the gaps we have identified in PHCs.”
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Hope Ajayi 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Korede Abdullah 