Oyo State Inaugurates PMTCT Technical Working Group to Tackle Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
The Oyo State Government has inaugurated a multi-sectoral Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Technical Working Group (TWG) to strengthen its HIV response and eliminate vertical transmission in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held on Monday at Koltotel Hotel, Ikolaba GRA, Ibadan, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, described the development as a major programmatic shift aimed at safeguarding infants from preventable infections while promoting maternal and child health.
In his welcome address, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Babatunde Akintunde, who also serves as the Chairman of the TWG, emphasized the reason for the inclusion of people working in the field as TWG members, as opposed to the previous dominance of headquarters staff. He explained that this approach would ensure the generation of empirical evidence from field realities for proper policy guidance, rather than relying on armchair reporting, and also align with the Federal Ministry of Health directive for an expanded TWG.
Also, in his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, recalled the period when HIV prevalence in Oyo State was about 4.0%, compared with the current 0.9%. He attributed this remarkable decline to the efforts of critical stakeholders, including government institutions and implementing partners, and appealed for sustained and improved efforts to finally eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. He further stressed that while significant progress has been made, complacency must be avoided, as sustaining these gains requires continuous innovation, adequate funding, and stronger community engagement to reach every pregnant woman and child at risk.
Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted Oyo State’s progress in HIV control, noting a prevalence rate of 0.9 percent as reported by the National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) and a strong network of 52 antiretroviral treatment (ART) sites across the state. She disclosed that as of June 2025, a total of 31,866 clients were receiving ART, with the state steadily advancing toward the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
Despite these gains, the Commissioner admitted that challenges remain, particularly in antenatal testing, timely initiation of ART, viral load coverage, and early infant diagnosis. The newly inaugurated TWG, she explained, would serve as a strategic governance and coordination mechanism to provide oversight, align partner contributions, and ensure evidence-based interventions are scaled across the PMTCT continuum.
According to her, the group draws expertise from paediatricians, obstetricians, gynaecologists, public health specialists, medical laboratory scientists, nurses, midwives, ART coordinators, and representatives of community networks such as the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPHWAN) and the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN).
The inclusion of private health providers and development partners like APIN Public Health Initiatives, DFB, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) was also designed to ensure broad participation, technical assistance, and optimal use of resources.
While acknowledging the Federal Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) for its sustained technical support, the Commissioner commended implementing partners for their critical contributions. She further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for prioritising health as a pillar of governance, citing his investments in infrastructure, human resources, and digital health systems as enablers of the state’s renewed drive toward elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT).
Dr. Ajetunmobi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to universal antenatal testing, immediate initiation of ART for all HIV-positive mothers, strengthened viral load monitoring, and the scale-up of point-of-care early infant diagnosis. She stressed that Oyo State would adopt data-driven microplanning and cascade analysis to close existing gaps, ensuring that no mother or child is left behind.
She concluded by declaring the TWG formally inaugurated, urging stakeholders to pursue evidence-driven deliberations, robust coordination, and transformative outcomes.
“With this TWG, Oyo State is charting a technically sound and politically committed pathway to eMTCT. Together, we will ensure no child is born with HIV and every mother lives a healthy, productive life,” she said.
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