NACA ORGANIZES 3 DAY SS TRAINING ON NATIONAL HIVST AND PREP COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR MEDIA, OTHERS

 

As part of efforts to boost emerging innovations in the South-South HIV response space and also re invigorate the existing robust stakeholder support towards HIV related issues, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has commenced a 3-day training on the National HIV self-testing and pre exposure communication strategy for members of the South-South zone media advocacy group and other stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State.

Declaring the training open, the Delta state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the program was apt as it would result in further sensitizing the public on the  availability  of HIV self testing and  prophylaxis.

Mr. Aniagwi maintained that 'a healthy people formed a healthy society; therefore, persons with ailments are encouraged to go for treatment'.

 He  said persons living with HIV are no longer stigmatized  as NACA has made it possible for such persons to make themselves available for treatment.

  

 In her opening remarks,the zonal coordinator, National Agency  for the Control of AIDS, Dr Uduak Daniel said the training  on the National HIV Self Testing and Profilaxis Communication Strategy is  the first in the country after the national launch in January, 2022, thus, cascading the strategy to the States within the zone .

 Dr Daniel pointed out that among other things, the training  aims at facilitating the South South HIV media advocacy forum,  stressing that the expected outcome of the training is to build the capacity of the participants on HIV/AIDS programming and reportage, and as well extend  participation to new entrants in the South South media advocacy platform.

   

The training has  so far featured presentation on the overview of the national HIVST and PREP Communication Strategy and Understanding The Communication Strategy Matrix by Ifere Obeten of Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS CRSACA as well as         "Theory that drives the strategy: Exploring the core problem and the changes to address the problem"  by Fayman Omini followed by extensive discussions by participants.

Goodwill messages were delivered at the training by Implementing Partners IPs, including Chiefs of Party for fhi360,the   and Jhpeigo RISE/CHOICE , State Team Lead for CARITAS, fhi360/AHPIN, Delta State Coordinator of Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria NEPWHAN, Chairman of South South zone media advocacy group, Mrs. Sogbeba Dokubo as well as the Project Manager of Rivers State SACA, Dr. Francis Naaziga who spoke on behalf of all SACAs from the South South zone