Anambra enrolls 10,384 people living with HIV in health insurance scheme
The Anambra State Government has enrolled 10,384 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) into the state’s health insurance scheme in a major step towards expanding access to affordable, quality and sustainable healthcare services for affected residents while strengthening long-term HIV treatment and support across the state.
The milestone was announced on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, by the Director and Project Manager of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Nkem Okeke, at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The meeting focused on reviewing the integration of HIV services into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme and identifying strategies to improve healthcare delivery for beneficiaries.
Okeke said the enrolment demonstrates the state government’s commitment to ensuring that people living with HIV have uninterrupted access to healthcare through a sustainable financing model that reduces dependence on donor support and strengthens the state’s health system.
He noted that integrating HIV services into the health insurance programme would guarantee affordable, quality and sustainable healthcare while improving long-term health outcomes for beneficiaries across the state.
According to him, the achievement has positioned Anambra among the leading states in Nigeria implementing the integration of HIV services into health insurance programmes to ensure wider healthcare access and sustainability.
Speaking on the purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting, Okeke said participants assessed the progress made so far and explored ways of strengthening the implementation of the initiative.
“We assessed the implementation of the integration of HIV services into the state’s health insurance scheme.”
“We shared experiences and identified practical measures to improve service delivery,” he said.
He added that discussions also centred on addressing challenges limiting access to HIV treatment across the state.
“We shared experiences and identified practical measures to improve service delivery and address challenges affecting access to HIV care across the state.”
Okeke further disclosed that stakeholders resolved to intensify efforts aimed at expanding the programme to reach more beneficiaries while sustaining the progress already recorded.
“Our discussions also focused on strengthening implementation and increasing enrolment to sustain the gains already recorded,” he said.
He described the initiative as a significant milestone in Anambra’s response to HIV, saying it would improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations and contribute to better treatment outcomes for people living with the virus.
The ANSACA boss commended the collaboration among government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders, urging them to sustain the partnership to consolidate existing achievements and expand healthcare coverage to more residents living with HIV across communities in the state.
Okeke reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no person living with HIV in Anambra is denied access to quality healthcare services because of financial or systemic barriers.
He also stressed the importance of regular HIV testing, early diagnosis and prompt treatment, describing them as critical measures in controlling the spread of the virus and improving survival outcomes.
The ANSACA Director further urged residents to support efforts aimed at eliminating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, noting that social inclusion remains an essential component of the state’s HIV response.
According to him, ending stigma, encouraging early testing and ensuring continuous treatment are vital to achieving the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Anambra State and enabling affected persons to live healthy and productive lives.
