I'm tempted to ask the guy in the taxi who the frame is for ;-) But my hausa language skill never reach that level. Na so o! #Love is a beautiful universal language!! Let love lead!
Love? It is a verb.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Just in! Youth volunteer opportunity!
Just in! Youth volunteer opportunity!
VSO ICS is a youth centred community development programme, conducted in partnership between International Citizen Service (ICS), Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and our implementing partners.
The three-month programme brings together young people (aged 18-25) from the UK and Nigeria. Each team will typically consist of 20 young people, with equal numbers coming from the UK and the host country. In carefully selected communities, volunteers work in placements fully supported by our implementing partner organisations and two full time VSO ICS programme supervisors. Together, in cross-cultural counterpart pairs, volunteers live with host families and work in the host communities. The type of work varies depending upon the needs of the community, but can include service delivery, advocacy work, and peer-to-peer education programmes. Through a programme of structured personal development and learning, ICS aims to create a cadre of young people who will make lifelong contributions as advocates for international development and as agents of social change within their own communities.
Completed forms should be returned to the VSO-ICS Team at
No 14B, Banjul Street, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse 2, Abuja
Or by email
foluwasho.adeniran@vsoint.org
The deadline for submission is 20th of August 2013 by 4:30pm
Only short listed candidates will be invited for the interview.
Interviews will be conducted in two Locations: Ilorin and Abuja
We do not ask for any specific skills or experience in our volunteers. We do however look for people who show the potential to learn and to become active Global Citizens. Click the link below to read more and download the form!!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Three Questions Worth Asking in #Nigeria
Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills to do those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living? - President Obama, in his State of the Union address.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Through PMTCT, we can protect future generations from HIV, says expert in #Nasarawa State
As part of HealthNewsNG's special focus on HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health issues,Jennifer Ehidiamen spoke to Nurse Egga, an expert in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) who works in a general hospital in Nasarawa state, northern Nigeria.
Her bubbling attitude and high-pitched voice resonate with her passion for the fight to ensure women living with HIV/AIDS lead healthy lives that are void of stigmatization and related challenges.
She says she is not alone in the quest.
Nasarawa is one of the states with very high HIV prevalence in Nigeria. According to data released by the Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA), HIV prevalence rate in the state as at 2010 was 7.5%, with about 80,000 people currently living with HIV.
Despite the high rate of infection, the state government in partnership with Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, are taking the lead in ensuring people living with HIV have access to treatment. A major focus has been the creation of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) centres in some hospitals. So far, there are about two hundred and fifty eight (258) PMTCT sites in Nasarawa.
In Nurse Egga’s opinion, when you prevent a mother from transmitting HIV virus to her unborn child, you are preventing the next generation from being infected. So when you are talking about Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), it is a serious matter.
Nurse Egga represents the optimism many medical experts and stakeholders have in response to ending AIDS. She believes that it is possible to have a HIV-free generation. But there are still some challenges that need to be tackled.
Click the link to read the full interview:
http://www.healthnewsng.com/2013/08/through-pmtct-we-can-protect-future.html
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Journal-ising +234...
Howdy! Happy New Month!! :-)
A lot of exciting, challenging and beautiful things have happened since my last personal note. And in all of these things and for all of these things, I'm giving God all the thanks! I'm grateful to my family and friends for their prayers and love.
Early this year I went on a post-university/college paramilitary service called NYSC. It is a one-year volunteer service to Nigeria :-) Oh well, so that was how I landed in Nasarawa. Ask me for more details later.
For work, I have been dreaming up some Big Audacious Next-level Goals (BANG!). I'm so ultra-excited! Like you know, I have been reporting on the business of health in Nigeria. For more info checkout www.internationalreportingproject.org. The experience has taken me deeper into issues affecting people living on this side of the world. It has also taken me to a new dimension in journalism- I mean, I never imagined one day I'll be depending on an interpreter while working on a story in Nigeria. But these voices must be heard. Language differences should not be a barrier!
So expect more grassroots reporting for a global audience! Talking about global, have you heard that Global Press Institute has officially launched Global Press Journal? Yes! That is one of the coolest news wire to source for the latest development news report told by local journalists. Here is the link to the site: www.globalpressjournal.com
Africa coverage: www.globalpressjournal.com/africa
News from Nigeria: www.globalpressjournal.com/africa/nigeria
Enjoy reading!
Sending you some cool greetings from (north) central Nigeria! And yes, it feels like winter out here these days. Thank God for raining season! :-) Stay warm and keep your fire burning!
May God preserve our saltiness.
Monday, July 22, 2013
"Flag it": training course on Digital tools for environmental reporting
FYI: The European Youth Press has delivered the second call for participants to the "Flag it: training course on Digital tools for environmental reporting". The course will be held in Bucharest (Romania) from the 7th to the 13th of October 2013 and will involve 12 young reporters from the Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, Latvia, Romania and countries where the EYP member organizations are based (http://www.youthpress.org/members). The participants: flight tickets, board, lodging and insurance will be provided by the European Youth Press for the entire duration of the event. The project is funded by the European Commission and involves partner organizations from five continents. You find the call at the following link: http://www.youthpress.org/news/563-flagit-second-call-environmental-journalists. Visit the project website for more information on the initiative: http://flagit.youthpress.org
Source: Listserve
The Impact Of HIV And AIDS On Children In Nigeria
By Faith Lannap:
Introduction
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is reversing many of the hard-won development gains in many sub – Saharan countries including Nigeria and leaving populations more vulnerable to poverty, malnutrition, ill health, and mortality, especially infant mortality. The adverse effects of the AIDS epidemic are felt most severely in some of the world’s poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where one of its consequences has been an upsurge in the number of children orphaned as a result of death of both parent due to complication from AID. HIV/AIDS not only orphans children but also makes children more vulnerable in a number of ways.
The epidemic influences child survival both directly through mother-to-child transmission and indirectly through diverting resources and attention away from children to the care and treatment of a sick parent. In several sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria, infant and child mortality rates have already risen substantially and are expected to increase further in the coming years (Ainsworth, Beegle, & Koda, 2005; NDHS, 2008). In addition, HIV/AIDS importantly affects children’s life and the families of children’s caregivers. Children of HIV-positive parents suffer from the trauma of sickness and eventual death of a parent and associated hardships. The burden of caring for a sick parent often falls on children, and many are forced to drop out of school and take on adult roles as a result (NSAA, 2008). Parental HIV-related illness and death often substantially diminish household resources due to treatment costs and job loss, which often affect children’s health care, education and nutritional status.
Information obtained from the Anti-Natal Care surveys shows that nationally, there is a significant reduction in the HIV prevalence from 5.8% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2010 and the fact that incidence (determined from the HIV prevalence of the 15-24 age group) also decreased over time from 6% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2010, strongly suggests that the decline observed in the national HIV prevalence is real (ANC, 2010). However, HIV continues to weigh heavily on maternal and child mortality in countries like Nigeria, with the highest figure of new HIV infection among children (60,000 new cases) in 2012 and an estimate of 17.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in the country out of which 7.3 million were orphaned by various causes and 2.23 million were orphaned by HIV/AIDS and about 260,000 children living with HIV/AIDS (ANC, 2010; NSAA, 2008; UNAIDS, 2013).
In Nigeria 10.7% of the 69 million children are vulnerable (UNICEF, 2007) 10% of children are orphaned (7% in North-west to 17% in South-East), 10% in rural, 11% in urban. Benue state has the highest prevalence of orphans (25%), followed by Akwa Ibom (22%); while Niger state has the lowest (2.7%). Benue state has the highest prevalence of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) aged 6-17yrs (49%), followed by Imo (45%), and Rivers (41%); with Kwara having the lowest (9%) (NSAA, 2008). One of the important challenges in countries like Nigeria that have increased number of children infected or affected with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is the need to assist families and communities to care for these children (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 2008).
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is reversing many of the hard-won development gains in many sub – Saharan countries including Nigeria and leaving populations more vulnerable to poverty, malnutrition, ill health, and mortality, especially infant mortality. The adverse effects of the AIDS epidemic are felt most severely in some of the world’s poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where one of its consequences has been an upsurge in the number of children orphaned as a result of death of both parent due to complication from AID. HIV/AIDS not only orphans children but also makes children more vulnerable in a number of ways.
The epidemic influences child survival both directly through mother-to-child transmission and indirectly through diverting resources and attention away from children to the care and treatment of a sick parent. In several sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria, infant and child mortality rates have already risen substantially and are expected to increase further in the coming years (Ainsworth, Beegle, & Koda, 2005; NDHS, 2008). In addition, HIV/AIDS importantly affects children’s life and the families of children’s caregivers. Children of HIV-positive parents suffer from the trauma of sickness and eventual death of a parent and associated hardships. The burden of caring for a sick parent often falls on children, and many are forced to drop out of school and take on adult roles as a result (NSAA, 2008). Parental HIV-related illness and death often substantially diminish household resources due to treatment costs and job loss, which often affect children’s health care, education and nutritional status.
Information obtained from the Anti-Natal Care surveys shows that nationally, there is a significant reduction in the HIV prevalence from 5.8% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2010 and the fact that incidence (determined from the HIV prevalence of the 15-24 age group) also decreased over time from 6% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2010, strongly suggests that the decline observed in the national HIV prevalence is real (ANC, 2010). However, HIV continues to weigh heavily on maternal and child mortality in countries like Nigeria, with the highest figure of new HIV infection among children (60,000 new cases) in 2012 and an estimate of 17.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in the country out of which 7.3 million were orphaned by various causes and 2.23 million were orphaned by HIV/AIDS and about 260,000 children living with HIV/AIDS (ANC, 2010; NSAA, 2008; UNAIDS, 2013).
In Nigeria 10.7% of the 69 million children are vulnerable (UNICEF, 2007) 10% of children are orphaned (7% in North-west to 17% in South-East), 10% in rural, 11% in urban. Benue state has the highest prevalence of orphans (25%), followed by Akwa Ibom (22%); while Niger state has the lowest (2.7%). Benue state has the highest prevalence of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) aged 6-17yrs (49%), followed by Imo (45%), and Rivers (41%); with Kwara having the lowest (9%) (NSAA, 2008). One of the important challenges in countries like Nigeria that have increased number of children infected or affected with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is the need to assist families and communities to care for these children (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 2008).
The situation of OVC in Nigeria remains highly deplorable as many of them are in abject poverty deprived of even the basic necessities of life: dignified and sustainable access to food and nutrition, acceptable living conditions, psychosocial resources critical to development and health, legal and social protection, educational resources, wages/income, and affordable health care (NASS, 2008).
Response:
In Nigeria the response to the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) crisis has been initially driven by communities as well as CBOs, FBOs & NGOs, which provide the initial safety net to affected children, outside immediate families. The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a number of policy frameworks directed at improving the situation of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). These include the passage of the Child Rights Act (2003), which incorporates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the development of a five-year National Action Plan on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FMWA&SD, 2006).
Non-Governmental Organizations and Donor Agencies such as the Global Fund, USAID, CDC etc have made significant contributions to the responses on the OVC burden in Nigeria. Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) an indigenous non-profit organisation is a Principal Recipient under the Global Fund grant to Nigeria since 2007 responsible for the OVC Component of the grant. Some of the key achievements made by ARFH on the OVC component include:
Supporting efforts by the governments to protect the most vulnerable children through improved policies and enhanced technical capacity in the response to OVC burden in the country, Mobilized and support communities to identify, locate, and protect OVCs and provide both immediate and long-term socioeconomic assistance to vulnerable households and Ensuring OVC access to core services including education, vocational training, prevention, treatment, care, psychosocial support, targeted food and nutrition, protection, birth registration and other resources.
Recommendation:
1. The Nigeria government efforts should be geared towards the scale up of Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission to reduce and possibly eliminate new HIV infections among children and ensure that their mothers are kept alive: reducing new HIV infection among women, increased access to antiretroviral medicines for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV and availability of HIV voluntary counselling and testing are key to reducing new HIV infection among children and keeping their mothers alive.
2. Strengthening the social welfare workforce to increase the human resources that serve children and complement the health systems is a key strategy the Nigerian government can use to reduce the burden of OVC in-country..
3. Assembling the relevant available data on OVC in one place, and acknowledging the gaps that still exist in our knowledge, will assist policy makers and program implementers to make evidence-based decisions about how best to direct funding and program activities and maximize positive outcomes for children and their caretakers.
Conclusion:
With the increasing burden of OVC in Nigeria, there is need for a systematic national response for vulnerable children especially those made vulnerable by HIV&AIDS, this can be achieve through enhanced systems and structures for inclusive social protection.
About The Author
Faith Lannap is a Public Health and Social Development program specialist with extensive experience in HIV Prevention, Care and Support and Child Protection. Faith Works as a Programme Officer at Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH).
Response:
In Nigeria the response to the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) crisis has been initially driven by communities as well as CBOs, FBOs & NGOs, which provide the initial safety net to affected children, outside immediate families. The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a number of policy frameworks directed at improving the situation of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). These include the passage of the Child Rights Act (2003), which incorporates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the development of a five-year National Action Plan on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FMWA&SD, 2006).
Non-Governmental Organizations and Donor Agencies such as the Global Fund, USAID, CDC etc have made significant contributions to the responses on the OVC burden in Nigeria. Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) an indigenous non-profit organisation is a Principal Recipient under the Global Fund grant to Nigeria since 2007 responsible for the OVC Component of the grant. Some of the key achievements made by ARFH on the OVC component include:
Supporting efforts by the governments to protect the most vulnerable children through improved policies and enhanced technical capacity in the response to OVC burden in the country, Mobilized and support communities to identify, locate, and protect OVCs and provide both immediate and long-term socioeconomic assistance to vulnerable households and Ensuring OVC access to core services including education, vocational training, prevention, treatment, care, psychosocial support, targeted food and nutrition, protection, birth registration and other resources.
Recommendation:
1. The Nigeria government efforts should be geared towards the scale up of Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission to reduce and possibly eliminate new HIV infections among children and ensure that their mothers are kept alive: reducing new HIV infection among women, increased access to antiretroviral medicines for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV and availability of HIV voluntary counselling and testing are key to reducing new HIV infection among children and keeping their mothers alive.
2. Strengthening the social welfare workforce to increase the human resources that serve children and complement the health systems is a key strategy the Nigerian government can use to reduce the burden of OVC in-country..
3. Assembling the relevant available data on OVC in one place, and acknowledging the gaps that still exist in our knowledge, will assist policy makers and program implementers to make evidence-based decisions about how best to direct funding and program activities and maximize positive outcomes for children and their caretakers.
Conclusion:
With the increasing burden of OVC in Nigeria, there is need for a systematic national response for vulnerable children especially those made vulnerable by HIV&AIDS, this can be achieve through enhanced systems and structures for inclusive social protection.
About The Author
Faith Lannap is a Public Health and Social Development program specialist with extensive experience in HIV Prevention, Care and Support and Child Protection. Faith Works as a Programme Officer at Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)