BY: AISHA YUSUF, ABUJA
The Association of Women living with HIV and AIDs in Nigeria (ASWHAN) have called on federal and states government in Nigeria to as a matter of urgency domesticated anti-stigma and enforcement law so as to protect the rights of women living with HIV and give them enabling safe living environment.
The National coordinator of the association Esther Hindi in a statement read out to journalists said domestication of the law will help in ending barrier, stigmatization as well as marginalizing members of the association in their host communities nationwide.
According to her, religious leaders also has a role to play in ending the ugly act by preaching none discriminatory messages in places of worship so as to allow women living with HIV marry their spouses of choice with the advancement of HIV treatment no transmission can happen and a couple can lived for over 20 years without transmission and will have children.
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Her words: “The International women day is a day when women are recognized for our achievements
irrespective of diversities, whether National, ethnic, economic or political. It is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played extraordinary roles in our communities and in the history of Nigeria. The commemoration of this year’s international women day is a rally point to build support for women and girls in health and economic arenas.
This year’stheme, “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress” to empower women with life building skills to reduce their vulnerability, encourages National and International partners to demonstrate their commitment in providing platforms for women to have access to economic resources. This campaign also urges government and all Partners to investment in ending
inequality empowering women and girls, end Gender-Base Violence as well as all forms of violence against women including women living with HIV/AIDS. It is in this light, that the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day, celebrating the achievements of women and
advocating for gender equality.
Our Achievements: ASWHAN has made significant strides in empowering women and Girls advocating for their rights. We have trained mentor mothers from across states contributing
immensely to prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.
ASWHAN have trained and empowered women as advocates against gender-based violence with support from UNWOMEN.
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ASWHAN have provided mental health training for young adolescent girls living with HIV to provide mental health counselling to their peers. These efforts with funding and technical support from UNWOMEN, UNAIDS and NACA have not only improved the lives of women living with HIV/AIDS but also contributed to community health and well-being. We are grateful to our partners, especially UNWOMEN who also made this press briefing a reality,
we thank all the state actors and non-state actors; NACA/SACA, NASCP/SASCP, Ministry of Health, and implementing partners. We call for more collaboration and support from other partners to
strengthen ASWHAN to reach more women in need. ASWHAN is committed to partnership and collaboration to achieve our common goals.
We urge the press to support our cause by raising awareness about the challenges faced by women, girls and children living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and to use the right communication
language none discriminating.
According to statistics, 1.8% of women are living with HIV while UNICEF report for 2020 showed that 20,695 children were newly infected with HIV in 2020, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable financing and financial empowerment for women.
ASWHAN conducted needs assessment in 2023 with support from UN Women and UNAIDS to provide critical information on the challenges facing ASWHAN members as women living with HIV and AIDS, the state of comprehensive HIV and AIDS care and support services for women, and the extent of physical, emotional and socio-economic shocks they experience. The assessment shows that 62%of the population have no source of income/livelihood, and the ones with income are paid job with average monthly salary of fifty thousand (50) while 11%are pensioners without any sources of support on top of that they have at list 1-3 dependant. Apart from the HIV burden coupled with stigma and discrimination, women living with HIV are living in poverty, we experience all forms of violence from both partners and community, we are denied access to services, economic empowerment and job opportunities due to our status.
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ASWHAN calls on women living with HIV/AIDS across all nooks and crannies to amplify their voices by joining our network to support each other. Together we are stronger and can create a brighter future for women and girls living with HIV/AIDS.
THE KEY AREAS OF CHALLENGES NEEDING ACTIONS ARE:
Invest in Women as a human right Issue: Gender equality is one of the greatest human rights challenge women living with HIV experience in their daily affairs so we call on Federal and State Ministry of Justice, Human Right Commission, House of Assembly’s to
ensure domestication of anti-stigma law and enforcement where need be, to protect the rights of women living with HIV and to give us an enabling safe space.
• WE CALL ON RELIGEOUS LEADERS: To preach none discriminatory massages in our places of worship, to allow women living with HIV marry their spouses of choice, with the advancement of HIV treatment no transmission can happen and we have discordant couples that have lived for over 20 years without transmission and they have children.
• WE CALL ON GORVENMENT BOTH AT NATIONAL AND STATES; To include women living
with HIV in social investment fund, Conditional cash transfers, include WLWH in palliative distribution and create employment opportunities for WLWH, our women have been working at the facilities as volunteers Mentor Mothers for over 15 years. Let the Ministry of Health help us employ our women.
• WE CALL ON DONOR PARTNERS: To support ASWHAN with funding and technical support to help build the capacities of our members especially the support groups at the grassroots to enable them to engage with their communities and to advocate for their right
• WE CALL ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE ORGANIZATIONS: To include ASWHAN in their skills acquisition and economic empowerment programs, to train our women on different business skills, support them with small grants to boost their businesses and support us to form cooperatives. We want our women to be economically empowered WLWH are suffering with no source of income and are burdened with children and other
dependents to take care of.
• SUPPORT ASWHAN WITH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND LIFE BUILDING SKILL: To empower women living with HIV to live a decent and productive life. Out of the 1.6 million people living with HIV in Nigeria, 56% are women. Please support us in alleviating poverty
among WLWH.
• ENGAGE ASWHAN IN PMTCT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND SERVICE DELIVERY:
Make ASWHAN the face of PMTCT in Nigeria to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, no child should be born with HIV. The burden lies with us, make ASWHAN partners in this fight. We are calling on GLOBAL FUND, the PMTCT Implementing Partners to include ASWHAN in the GC7 PMTCT implementation, we are the mentor mothers, we carry the pregnancy and we deliver the children in the labor rooms we are the only ones that can prevent the transmission. Only a mother can protect her baby with her life.