NATIONAL YOUTH NETWORK ON HIV/AIDS
(NYNETHA)
ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER
18 Ihitenansa Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru LGA.
joemetals@yahoo.com 08034629949
STATEMENT ON WORLD AIDS DAY presented by the state coordinator, Comrade Chidi Ezegwu on December 1, 2006
Today is World AIDS Day - an occasion to commemorate the challenges posed by a pandemic that has had a devastating effect on mankind, in particular the youth.
More than half of the 60 million people who have been infected by HIV in the past 20 years have been young people aged between 15 and 24. In Nigeria young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are most vulnerable to this global pandemic. Twelve million young people are today living with HIV/AIDS, and 6,000 more infected every day: that is 250 infected every hour.
NYNETHA is a network of youth serving organisations in the field of HIV/AIDS, Sexual reproductive health and right issues. The network was established in 2004 with the assistance from the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) Ministry of Inter-governmental Affiars and Youth Development (MIGA-SD) and UN system in Nigeria. Anamba State chapter now has 46 member organisations networking together in the fight agaisat the pandemic in the state.
On this revered occasion, we would like to call upon all stakeholders, partners, governments and youth organisations to reflect on the recommendations made by the National Youth network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA) this day 1st December 2006
Youth and Policy
1. NYNETHA should be involved throughout the development process of any policy affecting youth and HIV/AIDS
2. Create an enabling environment for appropriate laws and polices by promoting policy dialogue for HIV/STI prevention and care at all levels to mobilize resources, ensure ownership and sustainability, and promote a rights-based approach
3. Foster the participation of all youth in HIV/AIDS policy development and programmes, including those with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS
4. Work closely with a single-coordinating NYNETHA and promote the decentralization of AIDS councils down to the local levels
Gender Dimensions
5. Mainstream gender dimensions into all aspects of STIs and HIV/AIDS interventions, including: educational attainment, elimination of gender-based violence/coercive sex, empowerment of women and girls to exercise rights, empowerment to negotiate condom use, elimination of harmful traditional practices and all forms of stigma and discrimination, redefinition of stereotypical gender roles, and increased positive involvement of men and boys
Prevention
6. Prevention must remain the key strategy in combating HIV/AIDS. Preventive-education consisting of raising awareness, developing knowledge and skills to reduce infections, access to care, support and counseling, and empowering decision-makers from state to community levels
Multi-Sectoral Approach
7. Employ a multi-sectoral program approach as the roots of the HIV/AIDS epidemic are complex, reflecting cultural, economic, legal, and gender-based challenges
8. Policies and programmes must address the underbelly of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by simultaneously focusing on gender, culture, poverty, and human rights to eliminate the vulnerability barriers surrounding HIV/AIDS
9. Respect cultural dimensions of HIV/AIDS while addressing harmful practices, and supporting adherence to the internationally endorsed principles of human rights
Community Mobilization
10. Results-based programmes targeting behaviour change should be founded on evidence-based socio-cultural research of culture, attitudes, and practices of all beneficiaries reflecting young people, and the community leaders who are the custodians of cultural norms and practices
11. Engage community and its traditional, religious and cultural leaders in programme design to encourage ownership, acceptability, utilization and sustainability
12. Family-unit must be targeted in HIV prevention programming as the first agent of socialization among young people
Sexual and Reproductive Health
13. Capacity development for professionals, service providers, teachers and other members of the school community, as well as peer educators and parents to address youth sexual and reproductive health needs
14. Utilize Sexual and Reproductive Health programmes as entry point for HIV/AIDS initiatives (i.e. maternal health, family planning, and STI management) to provide HIV prevention counseling, HIV voluntary counseling and testing, STI management, and antiretroviral drugs
15. Development of skills for prevention and management of STIs and counseling
16. Advocacy for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) care and support;
M&E
17. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan must be integrated into any NYNETHA-lead programme on HIV/AIDS, and NYNETHA should strive to provide monitoring assistance to government-driven HIV/AIDS programmes among young people
Knowledge Sharing
18. Adopt culture of information- sharing and cross-fertilization of good practices between countries at all levels
19. Networking NYNETHA at state, local and community levels should be systemized
20. Networking with Non-governmental organisations, faith based organisaations, community associations and institutions playing critical roles in defining social norms
21. Take initiative to train ourselves as youth leaders to understand and enhance the role of young people in moving youth platform forward
22. Promote and package awareness and advocacy initiatives that build on the positive socio-cultural values and norms in communities to address the adolescent/youth SRH needs and concerns
Resources
23. Investment of modest resources to combat HIV/AIDS now will prevent high economic and human costs in the future
24. Programme design must ensure that maximum resources allocated through NYNETHA and networking youth organisations are reaching intended beneficiaries
25. Advocate for government support towards research and development of locally produced ARV's, and lobby for access to free and/or subsidized ARVs
26. Create and maintain partnership with governments, Donors, UN agencies, business groups and other institutions to mobilize resources, materials and technical assistance for HIV/AIDS programming
Actions for NYNETHA in Anambra state
27. Utilize the central available fund to expand strategic alliances with governments, NGOs, bi/multi-lateral donors, private sector, media, FBOs, CBOs, YPLWAS
28. NYNETHA should better reflect gender equity in its programs
29. NYNETHA should define and practice a consistent classification of "youth" to ensure suitable participation, and that program and policy is addressing intended beneficiaries.
Let us rise to meet the HIV/AIDS Challenge!
Thanks
