CONTINUOUS training and mentorship of healthcare workers are critical to improving the quality of care for people living with HIV, a public health expert has said.
Dr. Helen Omuh, Director of Prevention, Care and Treatment at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), said strengthening the skills and knowledge of frontline health workers ultimately benefits patients who depend on them for life-saving treatment and support.
Speaking in an interview with National Record, Dr. Omuh explained that mentorship provides practical, hands-on guidance directly at health facilities where services are delivered.
“Mentorship serves as a hands-on, practical guide delivered at the point of service provision,” she said. “It promotes better learning and retention for healthcare workers, and this directly translates into improved quality of care for people living with HIV.”
According to her, when healthcare providers offer better services, patients are more likely to remain in care instead of abandoning treatment. “When clients find the services satisfactory, they keep coming back because they value the care provided,” she said. “But if they are not satisfied, they may leave and seek help elsewhere. Retaining clients in care is critical for achieving good treatment outcomes.”
Dr. Omuh noted that consistent training and mentoring also strengthen patients’ adherence to treatment, which is essential for achieving one of the major goals of HIV treatment—sustained viral suppression. “Strong adherence to treatment improves health outcomes,” she said. “Clients are more likely to achieve and maintain viral suppression when healthcare providers are well-trained and consistently deliver quality services.”
She also stressed that mentoring different categories of health workers helps expand access to care while easing pressure on already stretched medical personnel. “When nurses, pharmacists, doctors and even trained volunteers are mentored to provide services, the workload no longer falls on one group alone,” Dr. Omuh explained. “This shortens waiting time in facilities and makes it easier for clients to access services and return regularly for treatment and monitoring, which is vital for long-term HIV care.”
Dr. Omuh further highlighted the importance of using data as part of mentorship and service delivery to improve patient outcomes. “Data helps us assess how well we are performing and where improvements are needed,” she said. “For example, if I notice that some clients’ viral loads are not suppressed, I will want to understand why and work with them to achieve suppression.”
Health experts say strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers through continuous mentorship and training will remain essential if Nigeria is to sustain progress in the fight against HIV and improve the lives of thousands of people living with the virus.
