Stakeholders in Nigeria, including the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), have made a strong commitment to ending the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mothers to their children. This pledge was made during a three-day training workshop held in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, with the support of the United Nations Women.
The workshop, themed ‘Peer to Peer to Peer Educators in Asaba,’ brought together over 100 facilitators from six zones across Northern and Southern Nigeria. The goal is to equip these facilitators with the necessary knowledge and skills to train others at the community level. According to ASWHAN’s National Coordinator, Esther Hindi, the association aims to ensure that women living with HIV/AIDS can live better lives and achieve their desired goals without being hindered by their status.
Hindi emphasized that preventing mother-child transmission of HIV/AIDS is a collective responsibility and can be achieved with the right information and access to necessary services. She stated, “If a pregnant woman has the necessary information and access, HIV from mother to child can be prevented.”
The Director of Women Development and Gender Affairs in the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs. Faith Okpohworho, also addressed the gathering. She urged stakeholders to work together to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every woman can thrive. Okpohworho expressed gratitude to UN Women, UNAIDS, and NACA for their support, highlighting the importance of the toolkit developed for peer support, education, and advocacy.
Representatives from various organizations, including STUAIDS and Viral Hepatitis Programme, SASCP, SACA, ECEWS, NEPWHAN, and APYIN, advocated against the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS. They stressed the importance of fostering peer support, advocacy, and leadership among women to enhance their capacities in navigating HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
