Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria is expanding its HIV prevention workforce through training designed to equip more healthcare providers to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people at risk of acquiring HIV.
The World Health Organization disclosed this in a news release on Thursday, highlighting efforts to integrate HIV prevention into routine healthcare services.
Participants were trained to counsel clients, identify people who could benefit from PrEP and support continued use of the prevention method.
Follow-up sessions have already reached 90 participants in Benue State, 118 in Taraba State and 26 in Ekiti State, according to WHO.
The programme is also seeking to strengthen PrEP delivery through antenatal care, sexual and reproductive health services and sexually transmitted infection services.
“Every pregnant woman at increased risk of HIV deserves to know her prevention options,” said Dr Aminatu Makarfi Umar, a gynaecologist in Kaduna State.
“I will make sure this becomes part of routine care in my clinic,” she added.
WHO Team Lead for Disease Prevention and Control, Dr Mya Ngon, said training alone would not be enough without consistent implementation.
“Training is the starting point. What matters is how this translates into consistent, respectful and evidence-based care,” Ngon said.
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Korede Abdullah 