By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
In a bid to ensure that young people, especially persons living with HIV have access to quality healthcare, a non governmental organisation, African Network of Adolescents and Young People’s Development (ANAYD) has embarked on advocacy in four states of the country. The states include Anambra, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers.
According to ANAYD, the advocacy which began in November 2023 and ended in February, 2024, was aimed at strengthening the government’s commitment to quality integrated health services for all without stigma and discrimination of any person regardless of sex, gender, or orientation.
Speaking during the presentation of the reports of the findings on Key Population friendly public health service to Ministry of Health officials in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of ANAYD, Mr Aaron Sunday said advocacy visits were conducted to other relevant government stakeholders across the project states to discuss key issues identified and propose solutions.
He said ANAYD implemented the project across the four states, which contribute to the high prevalence of people living with HIV in Nigeria.
According to him, “the purpose/Objective is to promote access to a non-discriminatory and integrated health services for Adolescents and young people in their diversities
“To promote fundamental human rights and gender equality of adolescent and young Persons (which include adolescents living with HIV, young key populations and young people with special needs)especially among those infected or affected by HIV, Tuberculosis and Gender base violence in Africa.
“To promote comprehensive sexual reproductive health and right information and services for adolescent and young Persons (which include adolescents living with HIV, young key populations and young people with special needs)”.
Making a presentation, Miss Agnes Dogara, the Programme Lead said ANAYD carried out One-Day Project Introductory Meeting in Anambra State to Identify Bottlenecks Hindering the Access of Integrated Health Services for AYPs in their Diversities, and a Two-day Day Non-Residential training/Orientation of HealthCare Workers on Youth Friendly and KP Service Delivery in Anambra State.
She added “55 stakeholders, comprising representatives from the government, implementing partners and AYPs in their diverse groups (AGYW, AYPLHIV, YLGBTQI+, YKPs and YPLWD) across the 4 project states (Anambra, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers), were reached with the project objectives, and collaboration for implementation was successfully formed.
“120 participants, which include adolescents and young people in their diversities, identified bottlenecks hindering their access to health care services and proffered possible solutions to the identified issues.
“121 participants, including state government stakeholders, network members, and health care providers, were trained on providing accurate, comprehensive, friendly, and non-discriminatory services for adolescents and young people in their diversities (AGYW, AYPLHIV, YLGBTQI+, YKPs, and YPLWD)”
She also disclosed that 19 million people, including adolescents and young people and government stakeholders were reached through the social media campaign which aimed to strengthen their commitment to quality integrated health service for all without stigma and discrimination of any person regardless of sex, gender or orientation. READ ALSO:
- Lagos Govt confirms arrest of teacher caught abusing minor in viral video
- Man escapes lynching for allegedly stealing church keyboard
- Wife starved of sex for seven years seeks divorce
- Man sentenced to 6 months in prison for intimidating FRSC Officials
- Tinubu: The President for all Nigerians, by Fredrick Nwabufo
“The project supported by ISDAO is a harmonised consortia system that focused on the 2nd priority of Nigeria Communities Advocacy Plan. Our approach brings innovation with respect to Human Centred Design (HCD) built on human right principles to positively influence knowledge and behavioural change, strengthen capacity of relevant government stakeholders and health service providers towards promoting safe and non-discriminatory key population specific and integrated service for Adolescents and young people in their diversities (AGYW, AYPLHIV, YLGBTQI+, YKPs and YPLWD).
ANAYD is a regional organizationworking for Adolescents and Young Persons (which include adolescents living with HIV, young key populations and young people with special needs) both infected or affected with HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.It was form 2015 in Nigeria, but properly inaugurated on the 29th September 2017.
