By Tony Obiechina Abuja
Gender equality has been identified as a key factor in eradicating infectious and transmittable diseases.
This was the submission of the African Network of Adolescents and Young person’s Development (ANAYD) in collaboration with the National Agency for the control of AIDS (NACA) and other national stakeholders at a sensitization forum in Abuja.
The initiative focuses on empowering women and girls in addressing gender-based violence and improving vital services to those affected by such epidemics.
According to the Executive Director of ANAYD, Aaron Sunday, “Gender Equality is a new form of program for adolescents and young people in their diversity to ensure that they are granted access to proper health care in a gender-sensitive, affirmative, and transformative approach and redefining their voices to speak up at decision and policy making levels”.
The representative of the Minister of Youths, Habibah Waziri said over seven million women are facing challenges that needed to be addressed during the sensitization program. She said there were lots of stereotypes that needed to be addressed in support of the advancement of girls and young women health.
For the country Director of UNAIDS, Dr Oluwafisayo Fakayode, the global gender gap index for 2024 ranking, ranks Nigeria 125 out of 145 countries on the gender gap index, stating that it is startling, unjustifiable and as a country needs to do better.
She further stated that without addressing gender equality, Nigeria cannot meet global commitments in order to empower women and girls to ensure that everyone has to enjoy very safe life. She asked the government, the civil society to ensure that the rights of all persons are respected and ultimately fulfilled.
The Director General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori in her opening address said no child deserves to be born with any form of infection via transmission of mother to child. She said the goals of the agency at the moment are to ensure that HIV and AIDS are not a public health threat by the year 2030.
