LA, MHR train CSOs to enhance gender based HIV, TB, Malaria response in Benue

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

A Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Lawyers Alert in partnership with Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR) has organized a 2-day capacity strengthening workshop on evidence-based advocacy towards addressing community rights and ending gender barriers in the treatment of TB, HIV and Malaria in Nigeria.

Our correspondent reports that the workshop was organized to strengthen the capacity of participants to carry out evidence based advocacy to advance gender transformative abd affirmative approach to HIV, TB and Malaria response and to enable them develop a joint advocacy plan to policy and gender-responsive approach to HIV, TB and Malaria care and prevention in Nigeria.

Welcoming participants, President of Lawyers Alert, Dr Rommy Mom, said the workshop was organized to propel a movement of women and leaders to have a gender based approach that empowers them to intervene in women issues especially in HIV, TB and malaria treatment in Nigeria.

Mom lamented the suspension of funding for HIV/AIDS treatment by the American government saying such action portends danger for countries in Africa.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the sum of N4.8 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs, charging him to ensure timely release of the fund.

Mom who described right to health as a human right said the approval should be quickly backed with release of funds to ensure that the vulnerable population can get access to the desired health services.

While noting that Nigeria is at the precipice of disaster, he said the suspension of global funds portends danger for the country adding that all hands must be on deck to solve the looking financial crisis.

He said “Africa, Nigeria and Benue state must all look inwards and find a way to solve the problem ourselves. It’s a tall order but we must all ensure that our people do not die if America do not give us money.

“People are during and without funding others will still die. If we don’t want that to happen, we must find the resources locally. Right to life is a human right and it means the people must have access to health services.

“We must all ensure that the vulnerable people are not put in the position of total loss of hope,” he said.

He urged participants, including representatives of Benue state government, to come out with ways to solve the financial crisis staring the country in the face.

Earlier in a goodwill message, the Programme Manager of State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), at the State Ministry of Health, Mr Abelagi Menenge, commended Lawyers Alert for the capacity building saying gender based issues cannot be overemphasized.

He said the state government has prioritized gender issues by establishing a gender desk and appointing an officer to man it.

Also, the Head of Admin and Gender Focal Person, Benue State Action Committee on AIDS, (BENSACA) expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with Lawyers Alert especially in providing assistance to survivors of GBV.

Our correspondent reports that participants were taken through Human Rights based Advocacy, Public Health Advocacy Case Studies among other advocacy training packages.