From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
In the bid to scale up access to HIV and Tuberculosis, TB services across it’s implementation states, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has taken advocacy training to Nnung Udoe community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day training exercise, on Saturday, the Coordinator of AHF in Akwa Ibom, Dr Ekemini Essien, said the training was to equip the group members on the strategies of advocacy to scale up access to HIV and TB services in the community.
He said it was also meant to develop the capacity of community members to be able to advocate for access to healthcare services, and other welfare issues in the community.
Essien, who is also the Team Lead, said the advocacy group members were trained on how to identify and provide completely free quality service at the community level in collaboration with AHF.
He added that AHF Nigeria during the training also gave the members the tools to be able to advocate and understand what advocacy entails.
“So, right now within the Ibesikpo Asutan, Nnung Udoe area, we decided to set up and train members of the advocacy club who can carry out advocacy on issues identified as paramount to the community.
“That will bridge the gap of knowledge, provide sensitisation and awareness on public health issues that can harness the strength of the community to meet their needs.
“The advocacy group involves bringing together some individuals within the community representing various age groups and social status who are passionate and ready to serve their community through advocacy.
“Community Advocacy group is the concept of AHF African Bureau, while AHF Africa Bureau comprises 13 countries in Africa including Nigeria.
“The community advocacy club is a flagship program of AHF to allow the voices of the community to count on issues that matter to them.
“We see ourselves as a community-motivated organisation, and we love to work in hard-to-reach locations where other people don’t want go to.”
“So, we are working with this community now to set up an advocacy club, we call them the power voices,” he said.
AHF Nigeria Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade said that the advocacy group, with the support of AHF and in collaboration with other key stakeholders will draw attention and seek responses to the challenges facing the community.
He said that AHF Nigeria will also offer support to the state’s TB programme through the advocacy club in the areas of index case findings and awareness creation.
The Advocacy Manager said that the target of the organisation is to have community actors themselves respond to issues in the community.
“Gradually, AHF will spread the advocacy club to the other local government areas where we will work in Akwa Ibom state.”
The Chairman of the advocacy group in the community, Village Head of Mbikpong Ikot Edim in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Eteidung John Etim, appreciated the AHF Nigeria for setting up the advocacy group in the community.
He promised to use his position to sensitize the people of the community about HIV/AIDS to reduce the spread of the virus.
“I really appreciate this NGO for coming down to this community with this advocacy initiative. We see it as a way of helping the people of our community.
“As part of my civic responsibility, I have so many ways of taking the information to the people in my domain.
“I will use my town crier, I will use churches, schools and markets in my community to disseminate the information,” Etim said.
He expressed happiness for AHF Nigeria for bringing the advocacy to his community and promised to make maximum use of the opportunity.
Another group member, Miss Redeem Eyo, said that the advocacy training has equiped her with more knowledge about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it.
She said she will take the advocacy to her friends in the community to make them aware.