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The Global Fund Nigeria TB-HIV Reach, Integration and Impact Project (N-THRIP) project is implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) to boost Nigeria’s fight against HIV and TB by improving collaboration, combining resources, integrating services for HIV and TB diseases and making services easier to access in communities and health facilities across the country.  

The project is implemented in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in collaboration with sub-recipients across the country and with the technical oversight of key government stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW), the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), and a broad network of community-based organisations (CBOs).

One of the project’s innovative approaches is carrying out house to house screening, testing for tuberculosis and HIV and linkage to health facilities.

Joy A. is one of the 14,852,690 Nigerian women who have been reached by the project between January 2023 and April 2026. Her baby is one of the 60,733 HIV free babies born.

Joy was pregnant for her first baby when she was identified by a community team of a mentor mother and a community health volunteer in December 2025 at Lambata, in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

“They saw me and other women fetching water at a community bore hole. They told us about the free tests they were offering and encouraged us to participate. I decided to do the checks. It was convenient,” she said.

Though Joy was eight months pregnant, she had not conducted any health checks.

“My husband and I are farmers, we often travel and stay in our farm for months farming crops like corn, guinea corn and casava. I had just returned after some months at the farm when I met the health workers close to my house,” Joy said.

The community volunteers counselled and tested Joy for HIV and screened her for tuberculosis.

Joy said the HIV positive test result left her sad, afraid and worried if not for the timely counsel of the Mentor Mother, Habiba Ismaila.

“I assured her that HIV is not a death sentence. I shared my experience with her. I have been living with HIV for more than ten years and my three children are HIV free,” Habiba said.

Habiba immediately linked Joy to a nearby health facility for antenatal services, anti-retroviral treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services. In the weeks that followed, she called Joy regularly to check on her health, remind her about hospital appointments and the need to adhere to taking her medications as prescribed.

The Community Volunteer, Fatima Yakubu, also contacted Joy and provided herwith a mama pack which had items such as toiletries, baby clothes and other items to support delivery and post-natal care of the baby.

Both Habiba and Fatima have continued to support Joy and make sure she receives the free PMTCT services available. Joy was delivered of a baby boy in February 2026.

“One of the things that has made me so happy in my life is the birth of my son. I am happy that he is HIV free, has a chance at living a healthy life and that I am strong to take care of him despite my status,” Joy said smiling.

Another joy that Joy has is the support of the mentor mother and community volunteers. They are encouraging her to go for the necessary follow-up checks and tests when the baby is nine months and 18 months.

The Association of Family and Reproductive Health (ARFH) works as the sub-recipient to IHVN in GF-NTHRIP project in the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Rivers State.  ARFH FCT Technical Assistant, Maryamu Johnson said that community activities include “identification of birth homes, capacity building of Traditional Birth Attendants to screen pregnant women not enrolled for antenatal care or any forms of care for HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis.”

IHVN Senior Program Manager, GF-NTHRIP Project, Dr. Adebayo Opeyemi stated that the project utilizes evidence-based strategies to reach communities.

“GF N-THRIP deploys targeted HIV Testing Services (HTS) awareness campaigns at the community level, creating demand for services among pregnant women. The project spearheads testing at Traditional Birth Attendants and maternity homes, house-to-house screening for tuberculosis and linkage of HIV-positive women to care by mentor mothers. IHVN also coordinates deployment of test kits and consumables with NASCP,” he said.