The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has commenced steps to revitalise the HIV response at the grassroots through stronger Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA) structures and closer coordination with the HIV/AIDS Awareness Brigade (HAB) across the State’s 21 Local Government Areas(LGA).

The Executive Director/Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, disclosed this on Sept. 2 in Awka during a strategic engagement with LACA Managers and HAB Coordinators.

A major outcome of the meeting was the planned establishment of a 1,693 member Ward HIV/AIDS Brigade, aimed at taking HIV awareness, prevention, testing, referrals and linkage to care closer to communities across Anambra.

Okeke said the initiative would strengthen the connection between State, LGA, ward and community level structures while improving coordination between LACA and HAB.

He described LACA as an important platform for coordinating HIV interventions at the local government level, stressing the need to revitalise the structures to deliver measurable results.

“Our goal is to revive LACA and build a functional synergy between LACA and HAB. We want a coordinated structure from the state to the LGA, wards and communities, with people who understand their responsibilities and can deliver measurable results,” he said.

The ANSACA boss said the agency would increasingly assess grassroots structures by their performance and impact rather than titles or positions.

“We reward value; we don’t reward titles and positions. Every responsibility must translate to results for the people and communities we serve,” he said.

Okeke explained that while ANSACA provides strategic direction and coordination at the state level, the effectiveness of HIV interventions depends largely on what happens within LGAs, wards and communities.

He stressed the importance of linking community based HIV awareness and testing to the health system, noting that identifying people living with HIV must be followed by prompt referral, linkage to treatment and continued support.

“When you discover someone who is HIV positive, your responsibility does not end there. You must ensure that the person is linked to care, followed up and supported to remain in care,” he said.

During the interactive session, LACA Managers and HAB Coordinators identified operational challenges affecting their activities, while Okeke assured them that ANSACA would work towards addressing the issues and strengthening implementation at the grassroots.

He said the 1,693 Ward Brigaders would work alongside LACA, HAB and other community structures to expand access to accurate HIV information, promote testing and strengthen referrals and linkage to appropriate services.

Okeke reaffirmed ANSACA’s commitment to building a sustainable, community-driven HIV response in line with the vision of the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and the state’s goal of achieving zero new HIV infections by 2030.

He said the true measure of progress would be seen at the community level in the number of people reached with accurate information, those who know their HIV status and the effectiveness of systems linking people who test positive to treatment and helping them remain in care.