ACTION Plus Up is a PEPFAR-funded project implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN).  The project provided HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services in Ondo and Ekiti States.   

The ACTION PLUS UP project was a five-year CDC-funded PEPFAR grant (2012-2017). EHAI implemented the ACTION Plus Up project between January 2013 and September 2017 in Ondo and Ekiti States (Southwest Nigeria). The project implemented public health intervention programs on HIV/AIDS care, treatment and prevention intervention, providing services free of charge at over 90 public/government-owned health facilities, and private and faith-based hospitals in both States. For the successful implementation and smooth running of the project, EHAI engaged all relevant stakeholders in the states of operation, including the State Hospitals Management Boards (HMB), Primary Health Care Boards (PHCB) as well as Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

EHAI provided technical support to the state in implementing all program areas of intervention.  They supported 99 sites in Ondo and Ekiti States, providing HIV care & treatment and PMTCT services, including private hospitals.   

EHAI’s achievements include:

1. Training 753 healthcare workers and representatives of state health parastatals  
2. Counseling and testing 546,361 people, including pregnant women and children, for HIV  
3. Providing PMTCT services to 260,070 pregnant women  
4. Placing over 15,000 adults, pregnant women, and children on antiretroviral therapy  
5. Providing TB services to nearly 2,000 TB-infected persons  
6. Setting up a functional Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Facility at the State Specialist Hospital Akure  
7. Improving the Ondo and Ekiti state health systems through infrastructure development, procurement and installation of equipment, and regular capacity building for site staff  
8. To support and improve laboratory services on the project, laboratory equipment was installed and maintained at 16 sites in Ondo and Ekiti states.  

EHAI’s recommendations include:

1. Engaging TBAs and conducting outreaches to unsupported health facilities and communities to increase service uptake.  
2. All supported health facilities should have functional QIP committees for PMTCT and EID.  
3. The Gender-based violence program should be subcontracted to some CBOs instead of facility staff.  
4. The Team approach is effective in addressing site challenges as most issues are better solved by improving processes involved in the delivery of quality healthcare.  
5. Deployment of an Electronic Medical Records system at facilities will improve timely, complete documentation and data reporting.