By: Amaka Madu
Youths who are described as the ones at the forefront of development have been advised to be more proactive for meaningful engagement in health spaces while building their capacity in the fight against HIV AIDS in the country.This formed the basis of discussion on a one day Advocacy workshop jointly organized by The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS ,the Vibrant young Voices Consortium,GNP+RIATT-ESA,Y+Global,SWEAT, REPSSI and PATA in Awka, Anambra State.The workshop which is primarily for community advocates aims at giving them a voice on global advocacy agenda on financing for children and adolescents affected by HIV, finding new research on the funding gaps for children and adolescents, including sharing feedback mechanism on draft advocacy messages among others.
During the segment of the online workshop joined by partners,Carinna Csaky of Coalition of children affected by AIDS,called for more capacity building on AIDs amongs children from community workers across the globe and establish thematic segment addressing inequalities in children and adolescents to end AIDs by 2030. She stated that over 77 percent of Adults and more children will die from preventable diseases like AIDS if stakeholders like NGOs , Community advocates do not come together to fight against the scourge.
Similarly, Mr Francis Casmir Nwankwo ,ED EIPCR YAG VYV Consortium,called for the need to fully involve young people with disabilities on their policy plan. He further explained that the main objective of the Physical Workshop is to discuss meaningful engagement of young people in health sector who engage in AIDS related cases within the state,and also looked into different challenges those of them in the health care facilities encounter who are currently working with experts. Mr Francis who is a youth Activists explained that the young people are really out to make impact especially advocating for AIDS /HIV. Some of the partipants working on different health facilities in the state shared different challenges they encountered.
Okechukwu Joshua who works for community based organization for HIV AIDs emphasized that ignorance on the patients about their health issues and religious myths and misconception have been a threat, while Chibuzor Victory and Ezegwu chioma enumerated lack of incentives and age limits as barriers to some opportunities for young people, including limited opportunities for grants etc.For Echezona Ajuluchukwu who is in charge of Children and Adolescents with AIDs listed lack of drugs and poor support for paediatrics management and as well as dearth of well trained personnel as challenges, while suggesting that high viral load in children should be stopped.In his own contribution,Mr Franklin Atolu of Be Glad Care And Support Foundation called on the youths to always speak out when there is an abnormality and be willing to fully get involved in the decision making process while pushing for them to embark on research on health care facilities as an avenue to increase capacity building on AIDS.
Furthermore, Mr Francis Casmir Nwankwo while speaking on tackling those challenges encouraged the young people to always explore opportunities and avoid monetary gains as a criteria to push for opportunities through their social media platforms by posting meaningful contents. “Let’s learn how to engage practically as Youths ‘”.
Contributing , Mrs Priscilla Onyema from National Drug law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State command, emphasized the importance of proper sensitization for those who go for interventions as the Agency is always ready to collaborate with the youths in the fight against drug abuse because it’s a thorn in the flesh which clog the wheel of development in the society.
Participants were put through ethical engagement with young people as partners, professionals, providing technical support.