Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi), with support from the principal recipient, FHI 360 and Anambra State Government has implemented the National Aligned HIV/AIDS initiative (NAHI), Grant by empowering indigent Adolescent Girls and Young Women living with HIV in Anambra State with various start-up kits.
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Speaking earlier, before the empowerment programme, the state commissioner for health, Dr Afam Obidike appreciated the group in his office as they officially visited him.
He also urged Nigerians to accommodate and support those living with HIV as it is not a death sentence.
Speaking at the empowerment venue, Tine Woji, the current project lead for Global Fund Grant circle 7 for Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative, disclosed that NAHI was a 3-year Global Fund-supported grant implemented in Nigeria, with Anambra specifically designated as a surge state.
“The overarching goal of NAHI grant was to reduce the incidence of new HIV infections, mortality, and morbidity in the country. There is an increase burden of HIV infections in these Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) when compared to their male counterparts making them more vulnerable.
“Despite the increasing focus and commitment to issues facing young women and girls by the global community, challenges to their health at the national and local levels have become more glaring in the face of recent progress. Far too many girls within the ages of 15 – 24 years of age remain marginalized and vulnerable; lacking basic life skills, career information and health knowledge to lead a healthy and productive life. To this effect, the GF-NAHI project stepped in to reduce the structural barriers by empowering over 200 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in learning a skill of their preferred choice.
“The programme lasted from July- November 2023 at designated training facilities in Anambra State. The organization was able to train two hundred and twenty-one (221) AGYW in six vocational skill units. The identification process began with the needs and risk assessments of the AGYW across the facilities in Anambra State.
“Woji also stated that the identification process was aided by AYP case managers, nurses, paediatric focal person and community testers within Anambra State.”
Mrs Woji who further appreciated the state government and the state ministry of health for their immense and innumerable support during the training, added that the goal of the programme is the improvement in quality of life of the beneficiaries.She urged Nigerians to always support and accommodate those living with HIV/AIDS instead of stigmatizing them. She equally encouraged the carriers not to see it as a death sentence.
On his part, Dr Anaeme Afam Cyril, the acting director public health department, Anambra State ministry of health who appreciated AHNi said that the government created enabling environment for all her implementing partners.
“We assisted AHNi by using government structures to get to the indigent persons that were in desperate need of this support and it is with the state ministry of health, ministry of women affairs and ministry of youths and sports that we were able to guide the implementing partners.In selecting the beneficiaries, we considered our geography and the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.”
Speaking to the beneficiaries, the director urged them to regard the empowerment as a stepping stone which will help them fly. “We want to hear success stories. We do not want to hear failures or any form of manipulation or someone attacked you and stole the tools.”
Dr Anaeme also encouraged them to start working with the tools immediately so that they can make some money to cater for their daily needs. He added that their success stories will motivate the government and the implementing partners to do more.
Contributing earlier, Dr Tonia Mbagwu, the state HIV programme coordinator said, “The programme is a structural intervention geared towards empowering indigent adolescent girls and young women living with HIV in Anambra State.
“We saw how vulnerable they were in the society, most of them are neglected and denied of basic needs regardless of how the virus was contracted. So we want to reduce this morbidity among them. The empowerment will help them take care of themselves first and also take care of their children and most importantly boost their self esteem and confidence.”
Dr Mbagwu who disclosed that HIV testing and treatment are free in Anambra State urged those who are yet to get tested to do so and know their status. She also added that aside AHNi, the State has other partners who supports her in this course like AHF, CHAI, EGPAF, UNAIDS, UNICEF, among others. She called on Nigerians to shun stigmatization and lovingly support all persons living with HIV.
Appreciating AHNi and the state government on behalf of her colleagues, 21year old Chinazom who specialised in hat and bead making promised utilising their tools to earn good living.
The beneficiaries were trained and empowered in hair dressing, catering, fashion designing, hat and bead making, makeup and digital marketing.
