THRIVE Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthen Health System in Bayelsa
by Grace Freeman – The Chief of Party (CoP) for the Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) Project, Dr. Faith Lannap, has reaffirmed the project’s commitment to strengthening health systems and improving the wellbeing of vulnerable populations across Bayelsa State.
Speaking during the THRIVE stakeholders’ Forum meeting held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Yenagoa, Dr. Lannap explained that the five-year cooperative agreement running from 2024 to December 2029 is funded by the United States Government through the U.S. Department of State.
She highlighted that the THRIVE Project is implemented by the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria (CCCRN) in partnership with Project HOPE and TA Connect, whose combined efforts are focused on enhancing linkages between communities and healthcare facilities, especially for children living with HIV.
“The project is implemented by CCCRN in partnership with Project HOPE and TA connect, which strengthens linkages between communities and healthcare facilities, particularly for children living with HIV, Heartland Alliance also supports integrated maternal, newborn, and child health interventions within the project.
She added that Heartland Alliance supports integrated maternal, newborn, and child health interventions within the initiative, ensuring that multiple layers of healthcare needs are addressed simultaneously.
Dr. Lannap emphasized that the project is designed to drive resilience, strengthen service delivery, and ensure that vulnerable groupsparticularly children, adolescents, and pregnant women receive comprehensive health support.
Also speaking at the meeting, Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, reiterated the state government’s dedication to improving healthcare services across all communities.
He noted that under the current administration, the health of every Bayelsan remains paramount.
“If you are in Bayelsa State, your health is important. Visit our health insurance scheme. Building resilience is critical, and this is where the Prosperity Government will continue to strive,” he stated.
Dr. Brisibe commended CCCRN for its strategic efforts under the THRIVE Project, stressing that collaborations of this nature significantly boost health-system development, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Williams Appah, described THRIVE as a transformative intervention that will enhance access to healthcare for people living with HIV while strengthening financing mechanisms that support sustainable service delivery.
“The objectives and goals of this project are distinct from what we have previously implemented. It will deepen interventions within and around Bayelsa State, and that is why we value collaborations. HIV is not a stand-alone disease; it requires synergy,” he explained.
State Project Coordinator, Mr. Moses Olleh, noted that the initiative aims not only to improve the wellbeing of children living with HIV but also to reduce HIV-related risks among uninfected children.
He added that the project places special focus on adolescents and young people to ensure sustained epidemic control in the state. Pregnant women, he said, will also benefit from better access to essential maternal health services.
The meeting ended with a strong collective resolve among stakeholders from Bayelsa Nongovernmental forum (BANGOF), Women Organized for mentorship and Advocacy network (WOMAN), NAPTIP, AAON, SACA, and MDAs to drive lasting impact and build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across Bayelsa State through the THRIVE Project.
