AMANA 98.1: Call-in Session on Gombe’s Popular Radio Station Inspires Engagement on Gender-Based Violence.

08 Feb AMANA 98.1: Call-in Session on Gombe’s Popular Radio Station Inspires Engagement on Gender-Based Violence.

Increasing knowledge and awareness about gender-based violence remains a priority across CIHP programs. This is in line with WHO/PEPFAR recommendations. In June 2021, a chat session was held on the popular Amana Radio station, 98.1 FM in Gombe state. This call-in session involved
relevant stakeholders from a CIHP supported CBO- Kishimi and the National Human Rights Commission, all of whom were participants at a 3-day GBV training organized by CIHP earlier in the month.

Hour-long airtime it was. And as calls trooped in from listeners, a particular question popped: “Do girls who dress indecently deserve to be raped?” Responding, the GBV team anchoring the session shared various perspectives, stating that rape can not be justified or used as a means of punishment and that no one irrespective of dressing deserves to be raped or blamed for such. Callers had a great time asking many other questions. So thrilling. CIHP continues to enhance coordination between GBV actors, ensuring that post GBV care services are accessible, safe, available to survivors and that prevention and mitigation mechanisms are instituted to reduce incidents of GBV.

NEW KEY POPULATION (KP) ONE-STOP SHOP IN ETI OSA LAGOS

In the last quarter of 2019, CIHP inherited a Key Population One Stop Shop (KP OSS) at Igbo-Efon. To ensure smooth transitioning of the KP program in Lagos – with retention of clients foremost in consideration and to build confidence in the new implementing partners, the facility has now been relocated to a bigger and more conducive space. Before now, the KP One-Stop-Shop at Igbo-Efon operated suboptimally as there was first a problem of inaccessibility during rainy seasons, lack of adequate laboratory workbenches for sample collection and processing plus limited work stations. It equally endured dampened and flaking walls paint while consultation and treatment were done in the same room, thus eroding the guarantee of clients’ privacy.

The new OSS is a state-of-the-art’, KP-friendly space where program activities are being carried out efficiently. It is well-equipped with meeting areas, demountable clients’ wait-in desks, kitchenette, laboratory, HTS/counseling rooms, consulting room, treatment room, pharmacy, records, and general-purpose indoor lounge. Since the relocation, the OSS has recorded over 3000 clients on antiretroviral treatment with a Patient Biometric System (PBS) coverage of 77%.

CIHP HOLDS BOARD AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The CIHP Board of directors and Annual General Meeting held on the 28th of July 2021. It was a successful turn of events as board members deliberated on issues bordering on the organization’s growth and continuous impact in the public health sector in Nigeria. Updates on programmatic activities, innovations, and resource mobilization were given and the external audit report for the year ended September 2020 was adopted. The board members were indeed elated at the progress update of the organization irrespective of the challenging operating environment occasioned by the COVID pandemic, strike actions, and protests within the year.

REVIEWING PROGRESS: GROUP ANTENATAL CARE (G-ANC) PROJECT

CIHP, DAI (and more recently, TA Connect) as well as the Kaduna State government conducted a review of the implementation of the G-ANC adoption in Kaduna with the objective of assessing successes and lessons learned from phase one of the projects. The 3-day Strategic ReviewMeeting (SRM) equally focused on areas that require strengthening, as the project enters the expansion phase which runs until November 2021.

Commenting on the potential impact of the project onRMNCH outcomes, the Chief Executive Officer of CIHP, Dr.Bola Oyeledun reiterated that developing the G-ANC module of care was a child born out of necessity, following the maternal health challenges in the country, which is mostly a reflection of the quality-of-service women gets during pregnancy. By enrolment so far, 56,378 pregnant women have been reached as illustrated above.

Key stakeholders, partners from the Kaduna State government, and TA Connect also made invaluable contributions on how the implementation of the G-ANC approach to prenatal care can be further strengthened in Kaduna since the state has adopted the model as a standard of care.

TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS INCREASE HIV TESTING OFPREGNANT WOMEN ACCESSING ANTENATAL CARE

In the last quarter, 14,846 pregnant women received HIV counseling and testing services in Ibeju Lekki Communities and Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
This milestone, which was achieved from CIHP’s robust collaboration and partnerships with 80 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) is aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV among pregnant women. One hundred and thirty-seven HIV-positive pregnant women identified were initiated on the antiretroviral treatment of the expectant mothers and to minimize the risk of HIV transmission to their unborn children.