By Abubakar Abraham
Kogi State House of Assembly has convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement Nigeria (INGRA), as part of efforts tailored towards highlighting the importance of collaboration and commitment to the goal of eradicating tuberculosis in the state.
The session also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about the negative effects of the spread of tuberculosis (TB), its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Coming at a period when the world was marking Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2026, under the global theme “Yes! We Can End TB!”, the brainstorming session also brought together lawmakers, health experts, and civil society actors to strengthen collaborative efforts against Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and Malaria in the state.
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Representing the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, who was unavoidably absent due to an official engagement, Hon. Ochidi Shehu, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Matters, described the Speaker as a sincere, approachable leader and a good listener who consistently wants the best for every citizen.
He applauded AHF and INGRA for their impactful work, noting their strong presence at the grassroots level.
Hon. Shehu further pledged full legislative support to ease programme implementation across constituencies.
Contributing, Hon. Bode Ogunmola, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and member representing Ogori/Magongo Constituency, called for closer synergy among stakeholders.
He reminded participants that all budgets were defended in the Chamber because the funds belong to the Kogi State Government.
“Whenever you bring a budget, you have to defend it before the House,” he said. Hon. Ogunmola added that incentives were mainly directed at rural communities and urged organizations to always inform the member representing the target community for proper mobilization, which he identified as a major challenge in fieldwork.
Speaking, Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director of INGRA, expressed gratitude Kogi State Government for creating an enabling environment and thanked AHF for the productive partnership.
This collaboration, he noted, has enhanced the state’s capacity to develop and implement robust health policies. INGRA seized the occasion to confer the Community Hero Award on Speaker Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf in recognition of his unwavering support for grassroots health initiatives.
Aliyu emphasised that AHF’s engagement is focused on strategies to eradicate HIV/AIDS in Kogi State.
Other notable contributors included Dr. Ejiga Emmanuelof the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes; Steve Aborisade, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria; and Dr. Onyeyih Ikemefuna, State Clinical Coordinator for AHF Kogi State.
Dr. Onyeyih outlined AHF’s key interventions: provision of antiretroviral drugs for HIV patients, supply of testing kits for medical workers, distribution of condoms for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and palliatives for the less privileged.
Dr. Komolafe Rotimi, State Programme Manager for Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer, used the World TB Day platform to raise awareness on Tuberculosis.
He presented encouraging statistics that revealed that approximately 80,000 patients were treated in 2023, over 80,000 in 2024, and more than 10,000 cured in 2025, with hopes for even greater success in 2026.
Dr. Komolafe described TB and HIV as ” Siamese twins” explaining that each fuels the other — TB remains a leading killer of people living with HIV, while HIV severely weakens immunity against TB.
He further declared Malaria as the greatest killer of children in the state, urging intensified efforts in malaria prevention and control alongside TB and HIV interventions.
Dr. Murna Yashim-Ankut, Senior Programme Officer from the Institute of Human Virology Abuja, and Ikechukwu Mpama, State Technical Officer of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), delivered concise messages on virology and integrated family health approaches.
Also present were state lawmakers , Hon. Major Enefola representing Igalamela/Odolu Local Government, Hon. Ebaiya Shehu Tijani for Lokoja I Constituency, and Hon. Sunday Daku for Bassa Constituency. The Clerk of the House, Hon. Ahmed Chogudo, was on hand to support the proceedings.
The interactive session underscored the Kogi State House of Assembly’s dedication to partnering with development organizations to build resilient health systems, raise awareness, and accelerate progress toward ending TB, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria in the state.
