By Edebor Esther
The Edo State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (EdoSACA) has convened the 3rd quarter meeting of the State Gender and Human Rights Response Team (GHR-SRT).
The session which was held at the agency’s conference hall in Benin City, created the opportunity for attendees to exchange experiences in Gender and Human Rights activities, issues of welfare of persons living with HIV and to keep them abreast of the gender and human rights mainstreaming activities in the state’s HIV response program.
It also sought to update and evaluate the progress so far made and to deliberate on further steps.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Oguta Amidu, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, EdoSACA, remarked that “Gender and human rights violations are key impediments to HIV response at national and State levels as people are refused access to treatment because of their HIV status.”
According to him, this is a hurdle that must be overcome in order to meet the objective of eradicating AIDS by the year 2030.
According to Mr. Oguta, the response team was initially set up in nine States of the Federation and was later expanded to thirteen States due to the need for appropriate dissemination of information to ensure attitudinal change.
Dr. Yinka Falola-Anoemuah, Deputy Director, Community Prevention and Care Services, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), who was on a monitoring visit to the State, urged the State Response Team (GHR-SRT) to hold frequent meetings, physically and virtually, share experiences, align and forge a common front and better ways to support various communities.
She also implored the Human Rights Commission not to give up on the fight for the rights of individuals living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and to further assist in ensuring that violators are accordingly dealt with by law, as this will not only offer hope to the victims, but will dissuade intentional criminals from taking advantage of those living with the virus.
In accordance with the national mandate, Dr. Falola-Anoemuah also suggested that the response team be expanded to include Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and key populations.
She emphasized that the key populations are unique due to their lifestyle and what it signifies in the quest to end AIDS.
She emphasized that if their difficulties are not addressed, the goal to eradicate HIV and AIDS will be hampered and urged the team members to persevere in their efforts so that Nigeria would not lag behind the rest of the world in the drive towards eradicating AIDS by the year 2030.
Ms. Priscilla Usiobaifo, who is the Director of Braveheart Initiative for Youth and Women, while presenting a report on her organization’s accomplishments since 2020, stated that her organization had worked closely with governmental structures to spontaneously react to incidences of gender-based violence as they occur while intervening in cases that require intervention.
She also lamented the fact that rapes occur often, and the victims are at great danger of contracting the HIV virus.
The highlight of the event was the Monitoring and Evaluation visit by the officials of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to the office of the Edo State Chapter of the Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).
According to the NEPWHAN Coordinator, Friday Osayande, the network receives welfare packages containing food items and food supplements from the Edo State Government on an annual basis through Edo SACA.
He however listed their pressing needs as the lack of gainful employment and skills training.
The meeting had in attendance representatives of the Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), Association of Women Living with HIV in Nigeria (ASHWAN), the Police, Human Rights Commission, representatives of Civil Society Organizations involved in human rights and gender issues amongst other stakeholders.
