USAID collaborates with Lagos state to assist HIV vulnerable children

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Lagos State government have launched a new activity designed to protect Lagos children /orphans and their households due to their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS.

The four activities under the five-year, $64 million Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award (ICHSSA) will work to protect more than 450,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in a total of 10 states.

In Lagos, ICHSSA Region 2 (ICHSSA 2) will provide services to children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS and protect young people who are at high risk of acquiring HIV. ICHSSA 2 will also help young people protect themselves from gender-based violence.

It will help to engage community members to reduce HIV related stigma and harmful cultural practices that endanger children.

According to USAID Deputy Office Director for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Ms. Helina Meri “This activity will not only protect young people from the stigma of HIV, but also help eliminate the perception of people living with HIV as being anything less than vibrant and productive.”

“It will also help young people suffering to live more fulfilling lives by providing access to health, education, economic stability, safety and protection services,” he said.

Ms. Meri said  that “ICHSSA 2 will build on the successes of other past and present USAID investments in partnership with local Nigerian organizations and state governments to continue support to OVC and will help further solidify USAID’s relationship with state counterparts.”

The key stakeholders in the activity are the Local community-based organizations , and will receive capacity building to deliver high quality services directly to beneficiary households.

She said are trained community case workers will focus on strengthening families, communities, government systems, and civic institutions that care for HIV infected, affected, and at risk OVC and adolescents, and help teens stay healthy, stay in school, and lead safe and stable lives.

Responding to gesture, the wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibironke Sanwo-Olu, expresses her appreciation to USAID for the partnership and the implementation of the Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award (ICHSSA) 2 project, which promotes the wellbeing of vulnerable children in Lagos State.

According to USAID, in the next five years, the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) will implement ICHSSA 2 in concert with other indigenous non-governmental and governmental organizations in Lagos and Edo states to provide HIV prevention, treatment, protection, and care and support services to more than 105,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers.

Other states where ICHSSA operates include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Niger, Taraba, Bayelsa and Kano. USAID delivers comprehensive HIV treatment services to over 500,000 Nigerians and provides medicines to treat over 1.5 million Nigerians living with HIV.

Lateefah Ibrahim