EKSACA, NACA MOBILISE STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS RESPONSE TO HIV IN EKITI

 

The Ekiti State AIDS Control Agency, EKSACA, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has commenced a 5-day capacity-strengthening training to promote gender and human rights-responsive HIV programming in the state.

The training focuses on the deployment of the Gender and Human Rights Self-Assessment Tool, GHR-SAT, to enable stakeholders to identify gaps, inequities, and barriers in policies and service delivery, and to develop practical interventions to address them.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of EKSACA, Dr. Dairo Ojo, stressed the need for collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, and people living with HIV to strengthen the state’s response.  

Dr Ojo said that the training would provide an opportunity to critically examine existing interventions and develop practical approaches that ensure everyone can access HIV services without stigma or discrimination.

Declaring the training open, the NACA representative and Assistant Chief Programme Officer on Gender-Based Violence, Mrs. Favour Iyamu, said the GHR-SAT was designed to support states in conducting a comprehensive self-assessment of gender and human rights issues affecting access to HIV, TB, and malaria services.  

_“We must strengthen state systems to identify and remove barriers that prevent individuals and groups from accessing health services without stigma or discrimination,”_ Mrs. Iyamu stated.

Also speaking, NACA Assistant Programme Officer, Mr. Michael Iyevhobu, explained that the GHR-SAT promotes inclusive, rights-based programming. He added that the tool will strengthen reporting, advocacy, and alignment with national and global commitments.

Key areas covered in the training include reducing stigma and discrimination, promoting non-discriminatory healthcare, access to justice, legal literacy, prevention of gender-based violence, policy reform, and community mobilization and advocacy.

In attendance were representatives of the State AIDS and STI Control Programme, SASCP, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, line ministries, implementing partners, and community-based organizations who pledged support for the initiative.

The organisers expressed optimism that the outcome of the assessment and capacity-building exercise will lead to stronger, more equitable, and stigma-free HIV programming in Ekiti State, and provide a solid foundation for planning, monitoring, and improved service delivery.