The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has pledged sustained support for community-led initiatives aimed at addressing health challenges in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Steve Aborisade, AHF’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, made the pledge on Saturday during a tuberculosis (TB) testing and counselling exercise at Nnung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2025 explained that TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It can be contacted through the air when an infected person cough, sneeze or spit. Although it is preventable and curable.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Aborisade said the foundation would continue to back community advocacy platforms such as Power Voices to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders and enhance public health awareness.
Aborisade noted that community ownership remained crucial to the success and acceptance of health programmes.
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The outreach, which benefitted more than 200 residents, was organised to promote early detection of TB and provide access to treatment.
What AHF coordinator said
Miss Jessica Umoh, AHF’s Akwa Ibom Linkage Coordinator, said sputum samples were collected and analysed free of charge, adding that anyone diagnosed would receive treatment at no cost in public health facilities.
She reiterated that TB was curable and cautioned residents against relying on herbal remedies.
Community participants welcomed the exercise, noting that it came at the right time and addressed a pressing health need.
