History
Care of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS was also one of the initial reasons for the hospital, and the journey so far has been good. In December, 2007 the hospital was activated as a Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) site by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a programme sponsored by USAID. This was a move to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on communities within Jikwoyi. Under this programme, we delivered 114 exposed babies (babies born of HIV positive mothers) and all turned out to be HIV negative except one whose mother could not adhere to directives. The funders of this project embarked on evaluation exercise in July, 2010 of which Nativity hospital emerged the overall best among CRS sponsored PMTCT sites all over the country. This project lasted until February, 2011. From that moment it became very difficult for the hospital to carry out HIV/AIDS activities due to lack of resources. In November, 2011 a group called Excellence & Friends Management Consult Ltd (EFMC) expressed interest in sponsoring HIV/AIDS activities in the hospital.
Memorandum of understanding was signed between the two parties on 10th January, 2012. This project was aimed at immediate, comprehensive and evidence based action to turn the tide of global HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. This hospital was selected among others as the first site under EFMC to offer comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme including care and support, integrated prevention services, ante-retroviral therapy (ART) adults & Paediatrics, PMTCT, and HIV testing & counselling (HTC). These activities were carried out effectively. On 30th September, 2012 EFMC handed over this facility to another partner known as Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) to continue with the sponsorship of HIV/AIDS activities, and our hospital was still considered as a comprehensive site. CCFN are our sponsors till date. One remarkable thing about the Sisters of Nativity Hospital regarding the care of HIV/AIDS is its ability to integrate its services into the normal hospital services. Every patient that comes to the hospital follows the same channel regardless of their status. We are currently catering for 1,806 patients under this programme.
The hospital was accredited to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2009. This was a strategy aimed at improving health care delivery services at affordable cost.
In February 2015, we embarked on the project of building a new block for the hospital with the intention of addressing the challenges of lack of private wards, lack of chapel for the patients, lack of scanning room, inadequate hospital laboratory, a modern theatre and so on. Thank God, we have been able to achieve this dream THROUGH FUNDING AND SACRIFICES OF THE SISTERS.
It looks as if the struggle is over but for us the journey has only started. It is one thing to build and another to equip. We are now faced with the huge challenge of equipping this gigantic hospital block we have been able to build. We will sincerely appreciate your assistance to enable us equip and put this building to use.
The Beginnings
The Sisters of the Nativity, through the influence of our beloved late Sr. Rosemary Mamman, in partnership with Manos Unidas, Spain, and other partner agencies, established a 15 bedded health facility. This project was commissioned on 8th April, 2006 by Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh (then Bishop of Makurdi diocese) and went into operation on 1st May, 2006.
The hospital is located in Jikwoyi phase I, a suburban area south-east of the federal capital territory, and an under-served area with a fast growing population. It is roughly 15-20 km from the City Centre.
The purpose for which this health facility was established essentially was to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS and malaria on families and communities in Jikwoyi and its environs as well as to provide maternal and child care services. These services are being rendered to everybody regardless of religion, ethnicity, or socio economic status. As years went by and as clientele increased, the scope of care expanded.
We currently render the following services: antenatal care, deliveries, postnatal care, comprehensive laboratory investigations, general medical/surgical care, immunization, free HIV testing and counselling, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), and ophthalmological (eye care) services .Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.