Nigeria Launches National HIV Self Testing and PrEP Communication Strategy

A Defining Milestone in Nigeria’s HIV Response

HIV self-testing (HIVST) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are well-known, proven HIV-prevention strategies. However, global HIV program experts note that optimizing uptake of these strategies, especially among people who need them most, is a challenge.

In Nigeria, efforts to overcome this challenge accelerated when the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) launched the National HIVST and PrEP Communication Strategy on January 18, 2022. This strategy “elaborates the communication action plan that will promote the uptake of HIVST and PrEP interventions for the prevention of new infections and reduction of the burden of HIV among individuals and groups particularly at high risk of acquiring the virus. It addresses the challenges of low-level awareness, demand, and uptake of the HIVST and PrEP services,” says Dr. Gambo Aliyu, director general of NACA, who presided over the launch.

The strategy is designed for use by government ministries, departments, and agencies; development partners and funders; civil society and community-based organizations; and health care workers. It will help them design programs using a range of social and behavior change communication approaches that will ultimately increase uptake of HIVST and PrEP services, especially among key and vulnerable populations.

The government and its partners are proud of this milestone and optimistic that the strategy will bolster Nigeria’s efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control by the year 2030. In her remarks during the launch, Rachel Goldstein, director of the HIV and TB office of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Nigeria said, “As our HIV tools have become highly focused on biomedical interventions, it’s critical that we don’t stop thinking about the evidence that we have around communication, because if we have tools and people don’t know about them… we’ve lost an opportunity.”

The National HIVST and PrEP Communication Strategy is a product of concerted efforts and HIVST and PrEP implementation experiences among stakeholders in HIV programming in Nigeria, with technical support from JSI and leadership and coordination from the government, through NACA and the National STI Control Program.

Two years ago, JSI’s Total Market Approach (TMA) project developed the concept note that led to initial engagements with the government on the need for the strategy. This included hosting an inception meeting to secure the buy-in of partners to commence the development process, resource collation from relevant stakeholders, and desk reviews to identify relevant data.

At the strategy launch, Dr. Olawale Durosinmi-Etti, chief of party for the TMA project, said, “The first time that I had a conversation on the need to have this document developed with the leadership of NACA, it was warmly welcomed. Throughout the process, it has provided the leadership and coordination required to have this document completed, working with Heartland Alliance and other implementing partners in Nigeria, with support and generosity of USAID.”

The government of Nigeria and its partners are committed to disseminating the strategy to relevant authorities across the country and ensuring its implementation. This will include tracking progress and documentation and dissemination of lessons to tailor the strategy to reflect evolving circumstances.

Ministry of Environment Endorses 10 Million Tree Planting Campaign By AFNALPA

… To launch Tree Planting Campaign In Support of UN Climate Change Initiative. 

Federal Ministry of Environment has endorsed the campaign to plant 10 million trees in major locations across the country as a measure to combat desertification and effects of climate change.

The campaign is spearheaded by Association of Flower Nurseries and Landscaping Practitioners, AFNALPA. 

In an endorsement letter dated 11th February, 2022 and signed by Mr. Rasak Kolawole Adekola on behalf of the Minister, Sharon Ikeazor, he noted that the campaign is in line with the federal government’s vision to ensure increment on forest cover.

The letter read in part, "I am directed to refer to your letter Ref: AFNALPA10/022/75 dated 12 January, 2022 on the above subject and convey to you the Ministry's endorsement of your laudable and complementary programme "Plant a Tree Save a life" free planting campaign aimed at planting 10 million frees in major locations across the states nationwide.

"Without any sense of equivocation, this is in line with the Federal Government's target to increase the nation's forest cover and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

"To that extent, the Ministry will be willing and ready to collaborate with your association in achieving the said target."

AFNALPA noted  that the campaign titled, “Plant A Tree; Save A Life” is in support of the United Nations climate change programme including the Great Green Wall initiative to plant 100 million trees in Africa. 

According to the association, with over 1,500 members in the country, it has since 2011 contributed to the growth and beautification of the FCT, preservation of the Ecosystem and the provision of greenery for the beautification of Nigeria in partnership with relevant natural conservation agencies.

President of AFNALPA Mary Omoh thanked the Ministry of Environment led by Barrister Sharon Ikeazor for the proactive steps  taken on environmental matters saying she has placed the issues of climate change on to the front burner of national and international  discourse. They stated that steps of the Minister has shown that most of Nigeria’s environmental challenges are being handled head-on and with the support of well-meaning Nigerians, they would be tackled. 

AFNALPA called on Nigerians in the Public and Private sector to key into these global initiatives and support the Federal Government in her bid to eradicate desertification in the country and sub-region.

AFNALPA, according to them, "We would soon unveil their “Plant a Tree and Save a Life Campaign” for Nigerians to key into."

They said the proposed launch of the Abuja Horticulture Village and the 10 million tree planting campaign will take place at an event to mark its 10th anniversary scheduled to take place between the 9th and 10th of March 2022. The village is expected to host a 10 million capacity tree nursery as well a forest reserve on a 200-hectare land in the FCT. 

The event will also feature public lecture with papers to be delivered by the Minister of Environment, the United Nations, Nigerian Conservation Foundation amongst others.  The event would also feature an exhibition of best of Nigeria’s horticulture and flowering organisations and an award ceremony for individuals, organisations and companies who have supported Environmental initiatives in Nigeria.  

Ministers of Environment, FCT, Water Resources, Agric, the Presidency , Office of Chief Exonomic Adviser to the President, Federal Government agencies, the United Nations, Foreign Embassies, environmental list, public and private sector organisations amongst others are expected to attend event.

FCT Council Polls: PDP Warns INEC Not To Tamper With AMAC Results

In the aftermath of the FCT Council Polls that took place on Saturday, February 12 across the nation’s capital, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to tamper with results from the Chairmanship election in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who is the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council for the FCT Council Polls, cautioned that INEC must not allow itself be influenced by a serving Minister in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and a particular serving Governor from the South East to alter the wishes of the people of the FCT. 

Similarly, in a press release issued today by Hon. Azubuike Egbu, a Senior Special Assistant to the Benue Governor, has aligned with the PDP in the FCT, and subsequently warned INEC not temper with AMAC results. 

Hon. Egbu with his team of supporters who have been in Abuja for the past four days campaigning for his party (PDP), went round the FCT to sensitize Igbos in Abuja and enlighten them on the need to vote for the PDP.

Meanwhile, emerging results indicate that Christopher Zakka, candidate of the PDP, has been declared winner of the election in AMAC.

Zakka polled a total of 19, 302 to defeat his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Murtal Usman, who polled 13,240 votes.

2023: We Have A Solid Base To Build On- Ayom

By Emmanuel Obisue

Presidential aspirant in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Chief Moses Ayom, has said that the current administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, has set a clear roadmap to the greatness of Nigeria, and thus forms a solid base to build upon.

The entrepreneur and presidential hopeful under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, made this affirmation on Monday at the inaugural Conference of the APC Professionals Forum held on Monday at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

According to Ayom, the group of professionals are inspired by the policies of the APC and the exemplary leadership of the “President and Vice President are the delivery vehicles of the laudable policies of our progressive administration”.

He said the interventions of the two leaders has ensured the rebirth of Nigeria and infrastructural revolution, adding that Nigeria under the APC is gradually moving from the previous state of professionals “scavenging the streets for paid white collar jobs to a more desirable situation of breeding entrepreneurial professionals who are creating wealth, adding value and growing the economy”. 

Ayom noted that supporting a Christian candidate from the North Central which is the only region that has neither produced a democratically elected President or Vice President, would reinforce the “widely held belief” that the President Buhari is for all.

Speaking on the Ease of Doing business, he said “a lot of these successes can be traced to Nigeria’s vast improvement in the Ease of Doing Business index. This policy championed by our President have seen young people break previous barriers especially in fields like ICT, Engineering and the creative industry”.

“It is on record that policies like the social intervention programmes, access to micro credits, the agricultural boom and the fight against corruption have seen an escalation in the participation of young people in the economic sector.

“For me personally, I can testify here that I am one of the biggest beneficiaries of the ease of doing business policy of the APC government. In 2016, I was on President Buhari’s delegation representing the mining sector to the very successful trade mission to China where landmark agreements and partnerships were consummated.

“It was on that trip that the historic currency swap agreement was signed. On the same trip, technical agreements for the iconic Dangote Refinery were signed. My company, Granite and Marble Ltd also signed a ground breaking agreement with the world’s largest manufacturer of mining equipment, SBM China Ltd to establish Africa’s biggest mining processing plant here in Abuja,” he added.

He further commended the never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian professionals, many of whom he said have taken up the vast opportunities provided by our government to excel. 

Speaking at the inaugural conference convened by by former Governor of Bauchi State, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called on Nigerian professionals to jettison ethnicity, religion and others he called 'parochial considerations', in making crucial decisions for the development of the country.  

Osinbajo noted that only politics devoid of ethnicity and religious considerations can promote and facilitate development in the country.

The VP thus stressed the need for Nigerian professionals to embrace politics that is driven by merit rather than throw up base considerations especially as the silhouette for the 2023 election draws nearer.  

“The usefulness of professionals in politics is that you have people who are used to being assessed on the basis of their own achievements, who are unafraid to make competence the first advertorial of their acumen. In other words, professionals emphasize the role of merit in public life,” he said.