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A robust health commodities management system is essential for effective public health intervention. This is more critical in human immunodeficiency syndrome and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) programmes where unavailability of commodities, which are drugs, laboratory equipment and consumables for antiretroviral therapy services, will result in treatment failure and consequent loss of lives. About 2.9 million Nigerians are HIV positive and over 800,000 are eligible to receive treatment. With over 60% eligible population not having access to treatment, the need for scaling up of services through efficient commodity management system is imperative. This research aimed to explore opinions of health workers, on priorities and challenges of HIV/AIDS commodities management systems in Abuja Nigeria to support scale up, ownership and sustainability of the system.
Research Design
A qualitative research was conducted from social constructionist perspective. Purposive sampling was used to recruit twelve health workers made of pharmacists, laboratory scientists and logisticians involved in HIV/AIDS commodity management in Abuja, Nigeria. Views and experiences of these workers were explored on HIV/AIDS commodity management through in-depth interviews to ascertain challenges of the current system and needed interventions. The data was subjected to thematic content analysis.
Results
Results include the need for a coordinated and integrated health commodity management systems, sustainable human resource and infrastructure development and effective data management system. Government needs to commit financial resources to support of health systems for sustainability. Donors need to change their strategy of “quick fix” approach to health system challenges as it often results in Government laxity.
Impact
This research provided insight into areas Government of Nigeria should channel resources in health supply chain which is currently not coordinated. The results are currently being used to inform guideline revisions in Nigeria on the management of health commodities to entrench cost-effective approach in health service delivery.
Learning Objectives: Explore opinions of health workers, on priorities and challenges of HIV/AIDS commodities management systems in Abuja Nigeria to support scale up, ownership and sustainability of the system.