Category Archives: News And Articles

To strengthen its governance structure and capacity to provide quality healthcare services, capacity building, and research in Nigeria, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has inducted two eminent professionals, Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora and Barr. Paul Usoro, SAN, as members of its Board of Directors.

At the ceremony, IHVN Board Chairman Alhaji Dr. Umaru Muttallab expressed confidence in the new members’ capabilities to drive the organization’s vision forward.

“I am very excited to admit two new members to the board and these are people that have come with vast experience, one experienced in the pharmaceutical industry and research and the other, very experienced as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and this is going to boost the board of IHVN,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the new members’ contributions to making the Board more effective, efficient, and result oriented.

Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora is a distinguished pharmacist and academic with invaluable experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. He is a former Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

“I am committed to ensuring the availability of drugs and pharmaceutical products for the treatment of tuberculosis and the maintenance of HIV care and I will encourage the management to engage with manufacturers to establish long- or short-term relationships. This approach would make these essential drugs more affordable for the organization and individuals living with HIV. Furthermore, there is no reason why this Institute cannot become a producer of pharmaceutical products itself. I am more than honored to join the board because of the caliber of people at the institute. They are individuals of great integrity, and I am genuinely happy to be part of this team” Prof. Mora said.

In the same vein, Barrister Paul Usoro, who was also inducted said that his diverse background will support the organization’s goals.

“My background is diverse. I sit on the board of a bank and have served on multiple boards, including financial institutions and telecommunications companies. I bring experience in governance, which is crucial for an organization like this. Combining this governance expertise with my core field and legal practice, I can contribute meaningfully in those areas. For instance, in the financial sector, we focus on objectives and goals to measure achievements. Similarly, I will apply this approach to support the institute’s initiatives.”

He added that “the institute’s objectives are noble, primarily focused on helping humankind from a medical perspective. Anything that aids humanity is worth encouraging. I am privileged to join this board and contribute in whatever way I can to advance the institute’s goals.” The IHVN board consists of seasoned, committed professionals and leaders in health, business, research, management, finance, communications and other areas who drive the Institute’s mission to ensure equitable access to quality health services through innovative and evidence-based services.

To share knowledge, enhance compliance practices and build strong financial systems, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has organized its 3rd Annual Accountants Conference, themed “Advancing Excellent Grant Compliance” in Abuja.  

Financial professionals, internal auditors, and grant managers from across the country gathered for the four-day event which explored topics like regulatory changes, managing resources in a hyper-inflation economy, and using risk assessment tools.  

IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum enjoined participants to uphold excellence in their tasks and gain the skills and knowledge to uphold donor requirements and Nigerian regulations.

“Excellence is the hallmark of IHVN. As an institution, our success depends on our people. When we invest in training them to be excellent, we strengthen our systems, which helps attract and retain key donors,” he said.

Dr. Dakum added that the Institute’s centralized payment system and real-time transaction tracking have been vital in ensuring financial accuracy and timeliness. “Our commitment to transparency is a key reason why we continue to attract substantial support from major donors like the Global Fund,” he explained.

IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi said the conference is organized by the Institute with the support of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

“Our goal is to ensure everyone understands what is allowable and what isn’t. This helps us reduce issues and meet both our mandates and those of our donors. Participants find so much value in these sessions,” he stated.

Mr. Alabi said that participants, including sub-recipients working with, the Institute in 36 states have been updated on current regulations and federal guidelines, to enhance professionalism.

He also acknowledged the crucial support of the IHVN Executive Management, funders like CDC Nigeria, USAID, and Global Fund, and the collaboration with ICAN, which provided Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits to participants.

“This conference wouldn’t have been possible without their dedication to equipping our staff for success,” he said.

Conference Participants said that they gained invaluable insights at the meeting.

IHVN Grants and Contracts Assistant, Mr. Alonge Michael said that he “learned best practices for effective grant lifecycle management and risk mitigation techniques. This has broadened my knowledge on how to maintain grant integrity,” Michael noted.

IHVN Assistant Director Internal Audit and Compliance, Mr. Kayode Olaleye explained that the conference equipped participants with knowledge on how to adapt policies based on real-world challenges. He added that sessions on Artificial Intelligence and tax laws were especially beneficial.

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has partnered with the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHeJ) to inform health journalists about prevailing health issues for factual reporting and public sensitization.

At the opening ceremony of the 8^th Annual ANHEJ conference in Abuja, IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum commended the journalists for their consistency in sustaining a forum for the press and stakeholders in the health sector to gather, deliberate on pertinent issues, and forge a way forward for better health in Nigeria.

Dr. Dakum who was represented by the IHVN FCT Technical Lead, Dr. Charles Imogie, said that the conference theme, “Sector Wide Approach Effectiveness in Addressing Poor Health Outcomes: The Role of the Media” is timely.

“The importance of collaboration to strengthen health systems and leave no one behind cannot be overemphasized. The media plays an invaluable role in informing and educating the public about utilizing available free health services in hospitals and communities. This is just a tip of the iceberg when one considers other roles of the media like holding the government accountable to its people and encouraging better domestic funding for health programs and research,” he said.

ANHeJ President, Mr. Joseph Kadiri said that the conference will examine critical health programs and policies aimed at improving health outcomes for Nigerians.

“The Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) was introduced to address challenges of inadequate funding, inefficient resource allocation, and poor service delivery. However, SWAP’s effectiveness relies heavily on the active engagement of various stakeholders including the media. As journalists, we play a vital role in promoting health awareness, education, and advocacy. Through our reporting, we can hold stakeholders accountable, provide a platform for marginalized voices, and promote evidence-based health information and best practices,” Mr. Kadiri added.

Also at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, reaffirmed its commitment to working with the media to promote health awareness, counter misinformation, and ensure transparency and accountability within the health sector.

About 30 health journalists from various media houses participated in the conference which held in Abuja.

The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Global AIDS Coordinator, Amb. Dr. John Nkengasong has commended the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and Maitama District Hospital for providing quality prevention, care and treatment services to about 3,000 people living with HIV in the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Nkegasong said this during a supervisory visit of the PEPFAR Office of Global Health Security and Diplomacy to the hospital.

“PEPFAR is proud to stand with those in need. Maitama District Hospital and IHVN is working to prevent HIV infections. The work you are doing is lifesaving. We are happy to see that PEPFAR is making a difference in their lives,” he said.

Dr Nkengasong was represented by the Deputy Coordinator for Program Quality of the Office of  Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), Dr. Kainne Dokubo who toured the HIV service delivery points at the hospital and interacted with women living with HIV who have benefited from prevention of mother-to-child transmission services.

Earlier, IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum said that PEPFAR support through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ensured that 72 HIV-exposed babies whose mothers accessed HIV services in the facility in the past year are HIV-free.

“It is a privilege to have you with us. We thank you for funding the HIV program through taxpayers money to provide lifesaving treatment for many. We are also grateful to CDC for the profound technical support and guidelines.”

The Chief Medical Director of Maitama District Hospital, Dr. Rita Idemudia also thanked the visitors for supporting HIV services in the facility and expressed her desire for more collaboration to improve health delivery to clients. She said IHVN has collaborated with the hospital for 17 years.

The visiting team included the CDC Global Division Director HIV and TB, Dr. Hank Tomlinson, PEPFAR Acting Deputy Coordinator, Ms Jasmine Buttolph and PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Funmi Adesanya. The USCDC Nigeria team led by the Acting Country Director Dr Susanne Theroux