The Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Development Board says it is targeting one million children in the territory to immunise against polio and other childhood diseases.
Polio immunisation in Nigeria. Photo credit: comminit.com
Dr Mathew Ashikeni, the Executive Secretary of the Board, disclosed this at the inauguration of the 16th round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Abuja on Thursday, November 30, 2017.
Ashikeni explained that apart from vaccination to children against killer diseases, there would be nutritional assessment of children for malnutrition.
He also said that vitamin A supplement would be provided for children under the age of five to boost their immunity and improve their visions.
Ashikeni said that 60,000 pregnant women would be targeted for HIV testing and other free health services during the exercise.
According to him, health workers have been well mobilised to ensure all children and pregnant women in the territory are reached.
The secretary urged the residents to come out to access the free health services that would be provided during the health week.
In her remarks, the Secretary FCTA Health and Human Services, Ms Amanda Pam said that the present administration was committed to ensure healthy living of children and women in the territory.
Pam explained that FCT administration had engaged 50 midwives to be posted to Primary Health Care facilities across the territory and had distributed essential drugs to 60 PHC facilities.
According to her, the FCTA has just constructed 12 new PHC facilities and renovated 18 of them to provide health care services to the people.
Greenpeace Africa and Earthlife Africa Jhb activists on Thursday, November 30, 2017 confronted the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa by blocking the main entrance to the Department with nuclear barrels. The activists made a public demand that the Department of Environmental Affairs withdraws the environmental authorisation that has been issued for a proposed nuclear power station at Duynefontein, adjacent to Koeberg in the Western Cape.
A previous protest at the Department of Environmental Affairs by Greenpeace Africa activists, together with community members from the coalfields around Witbank
At dawn, Greenpeace Africa and Earthlife activists unloaded nuclear barrels filled with smoke and simulated a nuclear disaster. The activists held banners stating that nuclear is never safe and that South Africans say no to nuclear. The main message ‘Stop Nuclear, Protect our Future’ is being displayed on a massive banner, which is hanging from the entrance to the building itself. The protest highlights the fact that nuclear is dangerous and expensive and should not be under consideration in South Africa.
“The Minister of Environmental Affairs is the custodian of the environment for South Africa. The Minister is tasked with ensuring that our constitutional right to a healthy environment is protected for current and future generations. Approving the construction of a nuclear power station is outright negligence and the Minister is putting all South Africans at risk, including future generations. South Africans are clearly saying no to nuclear, and there is no point coming to work if you are going to completely fail to do your job,” said Melita Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the new nuclear power station has been a drawn-out process for nearly a decade, with affected communities, civil society and South African citizens conned into contributing to what has been a flawed process from the start. The Minister has chosen to discard the input of civil society and follow the recommendations of a flawed EIA report, which were based on outdated, and incomplete information, as well as assumptions that are not justified or justifiable.
“The 30-day period for South Africans to appeal the environmental authorisation for Duynefontein comes to an end tomorrow. Earthlife Africa and Greenpeace Africa are here to show our opposition to the construction of a new nuclear power station in this country, and to call on the Minister to withdraw her approval. Our activists will continue to blockade the entrance until our demands are met. We are calling on all South Africans to support us in our appeal to the Minister to retract the authorisation for Duynefontenin.” said Makoma Lekalakala, Senior Programmes Officer for Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg.
A detailed appeal will be submitted to the Minister on Friday. Greenpeace, Earthlife Africa and SAFCEI will consider their legal options in terms of the way forward, pending a decision on the appeal by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
The Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves have resolved to continue to work on expanding access to clean cooking solutions in Nigeria.
L-R: Samuel Onuigbo, Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change; Ewah Eleri, National Coordinator, Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and Executive Director, ICEED; Brenda Ataga, Senior Adviser to the Minister of State on Downstream and Infrastructure, DPR, representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; and Huzi Mshelia, Chairman Board of Directors, ICEED Foundation, at the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum 2017
The legislative arm of government has also declared that it would work with the executive arm to ensure adequate legislation that supports small and medium scale clean cookstoves manufacture.
These formed major outcomes of the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum 2017, where a new course was charted for the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria clean cookstoves. The event, which was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 in Abuja, had in attendance over 200 stakeholders from government, private sector, NGOs/CSOs, finance institutions, the international community as well as the media.
The Forum expressed support for the efforts of the Federal Government to scale up domestic production of clean cooking solutions in Nigeria as well as contributing to meeting the country’s obligation to the United Nations climate change agreements of which Nigeria is a signatory.
The Forum was declared open by the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, who lamented that, despite Nigeria’s huge clean energy potentials, majority of Nigerian households unfortunately still rely on solid biomass for cooking. He noted that the Federal Government was committed to local production and use of clean cookstoves, which has the potential to help Nigeria meet its obligations in the National Determined Contributions (NDCs), agreed upon at the Paris climate summit.
L-R: Omotola Adeniyi, representing the Statistician General, Dr. Yemi Kale; Dr. Yerima Peter Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment; Ogo I. Akabogu, representing Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director, Bank of Industry; and Wale Okuola, representing Femi Oye, Chief Executive Officer, SMEFunds Ltd., at the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum 2017
He said: “Access to clean cooking solutions is the right of every Nigerian and the forum’s outcome should address concrete and practical solutions to develop and expand the domestic market for clean cookstoves.”
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, in a keynote address, recognised the enormous challenges of using firewood for cooking and the co-benefits of using clean cookstoves such as LPG, ethanol, efficient use of solid bio-fuels and other clean fuels.
Saraki, represented by Senator Abu Ibrahim, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, “Access to clean cooking solutions is the simplest and most basic dividend of democracy every Nigerian should enjoy.”. He pledged that the legislative arm of government would work with the executive arm to ensure adequate legislation that supports small and medium scale clean cookstoves manufacturers in line with the Made-in-Nigeria campaign.
National Coordinator of Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Ewah Eleri, in his welcome address acknowledged the efforts of various partners and stakeholders from government, private sector, NGOs/CSOs and the international community in moving the clean cooking industry forward. He noted that, despite their efforts, the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is struggling to achieve its objectives and urged that deliberations of the forum should chart a practicable way forward for the development of the sector.
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary General and Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment, in a video message, pointed out that, as a result of the efforts of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and other stakeholders around the world, clean cooking solutions have been included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in the commitments of many countries in the Paris Agreement on climate change. She stated that “the United Nations is committed to supporting efforts in expanding access to clean cooking solutions across various countries including Nigeria”.
Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Chair, Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology, urged that the outcomes of the forum be translated to local languages for the consumption of the general public.
Samuel Onuigbo, Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, stated that the legislature has taken appropriate steps in making a law on climate change and that, in due course, the details of the proposed law would be made public.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. U. M. Ene-Obong, Director of Climate Change, outlined the health problems associated with smoke from cooking in an open fire and noted that the ministry works with stakeholders to promote the rights of women and children which includes access to clean cooking solutions.
Representative from Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Mr. Patrick David, underscored the need for safe and environment friendly access to fuels and energy for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) as well as for the need to disseminate clean cookstoves country wide.
The forum also agreed that there is need for adequate financing of clean cooking solutions in the country. In this regard, Bank of Industry and the Federal Ministry of Environment mentioned the different sources of financing mechanisms including the Green Climate Fund and Micro Credit.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, represented by Dr. Peter Yerima Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change, in his closing remarks, appreciated all participants, stating: “The huge participation shows the importance of the forum.”
He urged all participants to keep spreading the gospel of clean cooking across the country and re-emphasised that the ministry would continue to support and partner with the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to actualise the resolutions of “this great event”.
About 20 organisations showcased their clean cooking solutions. There was a musical performance by a rap duo named “Floss”. Their message essentially talks about elimination of smoke from Nigerian kitchens through the adoption and use of clean cookstoves.
The Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum is an annual gathering of government, professionals and entrepreneurs working to accelerate the production, deployment, and use of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves and fuels.
Research has confirmed that smoke from the traditional use of firewood is estimated to cause 95,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. After malaria and HIV/Aids, this is reportedly the third highest killer mostly of who are women and children. Women and the girl child walk long distances and spend hours a week in search of firewood. Even though the country is one of the world’s largest exporters of LPG, most Nigerian households rely on firewood for cooking. This also contributes significantly to deforestation as well as the attendant consequences of climate change.
Clean cooking will save lives, empower women, improve livelihood and combat climate change, according to researchers, adding that it is a priority area in energy access that is central in achieving the goals of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative in Nigeria.
“Clean cooking energy for all is not only possible but a right for the Nigerian citizens. The domestic market for clean cooking solutions must be developed through innovative partnership and support, thereby the government and private sector need to stimulate the market for ‘Made in Nigeria’ clean cookstoves,” said Eleri.
About 32,000 people have been displaced by conflict and severe drought ravaging several parts of Somalia in October, the UN humanitarian agency said on Thursday, November 30, 2017.
Displaced Somalians
The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest bulletin that this is a slight decline in the number of newly displaced people, compared to about 49,000 people displaced in September.
“Of those displaced in October, 23,000 were due to drought related reasons as the cause of the displacement, while 8,000 cited conflict,’’ the UN said.
The Horn of Africa nation is in the midst of unprecedented drought after rains failed for the fourth year in a row.
Humanitarians in Somalia have mobilised $1.2 billion since January for famine prevention to reach the most vulnerable with life-saving assistance.
The UN agency, which cited figures compiled by the UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN), said over one million people have been displaced due to drought compounded by armed conflict since January, mainly from rural areas to urban centres.
It said the latest displacements bring the estimated number of displaced in Somalia to over two million people.
“It is imperative to complement humanitarian assistance with more sustainable durable solutions for IDPs, currently making up over 16 per cent of the population,’’ OCHA said.
At least 110,000 households, comprising 700,000 people in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, are to benefit from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) input support for the 2017/2018 dry season farming.
Suffyan Koroma, FAO Nigeria Country Representative
The FAO Country Representative, Mr Suffyan Koroma, made this known on Thursday, November 30, 2017 in Yola, Adamawa State at the inauguration of FAO dry season input support programme.
Koroma said the beneficiaries comprised the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in formal and informal camps, returnees and host communities.
Koroma also said 44,575 households in 15 local government areas would benefit from the support in Adamawa alone.
“These 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been identified by the Adamawa authorities as having high potential for irrigated vegetables and rice production.
“The inputs to be provided will include kits of vegetable seeds, rice seeds, fertiliser, water pumps and hand tools kits for micro gardening.
“Extension services will be provided by Adamawa State Agriculture Development Programme distributed in 15 LGAs.
“Furthermore, farmers Field Schools will be introduced in the LGAs to promote best agricultural and nutrition practices,” Koroma said.
He recalled that, during last cropping season, 41,000 households were reached with improved seeds of staple food.
The food he said include millet, maize, cowpea and sorghum while women headed households got additional support of vegetable kits and fertiliser.
According to Koroma, FAO assessment shows that the interventions has considerably boosted the households’ food security and nutrition status in the state.
The FAO country representative said that FAO was also supporting a livestock restocking programme in Adamawa State.
“Under this programme, 250 bulls will be distributed to youths for fattening and generating activities, while 6,350 goats will be distributed, mainly to women to rebuild their assets and foster nutrition.”
Koroma reiterated the commitment of FAO to ensuring the implementation of its mandate of a ”World free from hunger.”
He lauded donors of the programme: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, US-OFDA, SIDA, Switzerland, Central Emergency and Relief Fund of UN.
In his remarks, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State lauded FAO for its sustained support to food security in the state
He was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Waziri Ahmadu.
The governor said the state government was making effort to modernise agriculture and needed the technical and resource support of FAO to succeed.
Also in his remarks, the representative of American University of Nigeria (AUN), the implementing partner of the programme in Adamawa, Prof. Yusuf Attahiru, commended the programme.
He said the institution, as part of its efforts to support the transformation of agriculture, would introduce agriculture business management programme.
Attahiru expressed optimism that the planned programme, when materialised, would support the transformation of agriculture to business and make it more attractive.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Mr Moses Kafare and Mrs Philomena Dagoje, who are IDPs, said that the interventions by FAO had affected their lives positively.
“We can now feed ourselves. This approach is like the popular proverb of teaching somebody how to fish which is better than continue giving him fish.
”We are indeed grateful for the support,” Kafare said.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on Thursday, November 30, 2017 urged the Federal Government to implement the National Policy on Solid Waste Management in the country.
UNIDO Nigeria Country Representative, Mr Jean Bakole
The UNIDO Country Representative, Mr Jean Bakole, made the appeal in Abuja at the National Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Review and Validation of Draft National Policy on Solid Waste Management in Nigeria.
Bakole, who was represented by UNIDO National Programme Officer, Dr Chuma Ezedimma, said that Nigeria, as a leader in Africa, must demonstrate its leadership through the effective implementation of the policy.
According to him, solid waste is a global problem which needs an effective and economical management strategy.
He said that countries were facing increasing challenges of solid waste management, adding that with an increasing global population, solid waste generation was bound to be on the increase.
“According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, bulk density of residential waste in some countries was taken and compared, and Nigeria recorded 250kg, as against 330kg for Egypt.
“The U.S. recorded 100kg, as against 150kg for UK; 400kg to 600kg for India and 400kg for Indonesia,’’ he said.
Bakole said that the review and validation of the draft policy on national solid waste management was, therefore, essential because it would help to guide relevant stakeholders on specific areas of investments in solid waste management.
“This draft will also identify the key stakeholders and build an effective institutional structure, while facilitating incentives, job creation and linkages to global environment treaties.
“To ensure the success of this policy, there must be political will and private sector involvement; efforts should be made to encourage research and development, aggressive awareness drive, realistic action and effective enforcement drive,’’ he said.
The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, who declared the workshop open, urged the participants to contribute meaningfully to the policy document, which was aimed at ensuring sustainable solid waste management in the country.
Jibril, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Shehu Ahmed, expressed delight at the number of the workshop participants who were drawn from different waste management organisations.
He urged the participants to produce a critical document that would safeguard the environment and human health against unwholesome disposal and handling of solid waste.
Also speaking, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, the National President, Waste Management Society of Nigeria, urged the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment that would facilitate private sector-driven management of waste resources.
He said that the government must spearhead efforts to develop and enforce the national policy on solid waste management so as to spur investments in waste management and recycling projects.
Members of Wellbeing Economy Africa Network (WE-Africa) rose from their meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa, November 27 to 29, 2017 with a strong call to put an end to modern day enslavement of migrants and refugees in Libya and for the prosecution of those complicit in the dehumanising acts for crimes against humanity.
Migrants in Libya sold into slavery
WE-Africa is an action-research alliance of likeminded scholars and practitioners who share a common concern about the current socio-economic conditions in which we live and are willing to work together to promote a transition to a wellbeing-based economy for Africa. WE-Africa works to consolidate evidence for change while focusing on building a new economy and promoting alternative development policies.
WE-Africa recognises that the abominable events in Libya are a culmination of a number of factors, none of which, however, excuses the inhuman acts. Such factors include the fact that most African nations are riddled with conflicts and dependent on wasteful economic policies that do not meet the basic needs of their citizens. Some of these refugees were thus seeking an escape from poverty, war, unemployment and environmental destruction. They had already endured the hazards of passing through the hostile Sahara Desert before being held in Libya, with Europe turning a blind eye to such gross human rights violations. Their journeys into slavery began as migrants as well as economic, political and climate refugees hoping to make their ways to the Mediterranean coasts of Libya and crossing over to Europe.
WE-Africa says it recognises that facilitating the downfall of regimes through external military intervention without creating the necessary conditions for a democratic transition has created a fertile condition for serious humanitarian disasters and human rights abuses. An example, it adds, is the military intervention in Libya by NATO, which has contributed to the present situation, adding to centuries of colonialism and decades of neo-colonialism that have led to ecological mayhem and rising inequality in Africa.
Against the backdrop of the Euro-Africa summit taking place in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire), WE-Africa calls on the European Union to recall its complicity in what is happening in Libya and not to forget their long-standing relations with Africa, including historical, ecological and climate debts, and ease access to their territory as this would eliminate the power of illicit cartels trading in human misery.
WE-Africa regrets that, at a time when economies of African nations are said to be “growing”, the social and economic realities of citizens remain abysmal.
In a declration, WE-Africa called on the African Union and African governments to:
Request the United Nations Human Rights Commission to conduct a detailed investigation and bring those who are accountable for this terrible and inhuman act to justice.
Go beyond demanding for a probe of the subhuman treatment being meted to Africans by other Africans on our continent and take an immediate diplomatic and political actions to stop these inhuman acts.
To carry out investigations on why their citizens prefer to embark on the hazardous journey to Libya rather than remain in their home countries.
Urgently put in place pro-people measures that ensures full employment, security, access to health, education and other social needs.
Urgently recognise and utilise the rich human resources and gifts of Nature in the continent to derive alternatives pathways to wellbeing, including increased human development indices.
Question the use of indices such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that give false notions of growth while citizens groan under the weight of unjust and inequitable economic relations.
Embrace a difference approach to development inspired by the concept of “Wellbeing Economy” to build the pathway to an egalitarian future and entrenched in the spirit of Ubuntu.
“We cannot be silent. African governments cannot be silent. Time to act is now!” declared the group.
Turkish Airlines has signed the “United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration (UFW)”, pledging for zero-tolerance regarding the illegal wildlife trade.
Mr. Bilal Ekşi, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Turkish Airlines
Indeed, the UFW, which was on the agenda of the 73rd International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting held in Cancun, Mexico last June, has been endorsed by 41 airline companies so far.
The declaration, also signed by institutions such as Airports Council International (ACI), African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and London Heathrow Airport, is aiming to stop the illegal wildlife trade of tusk, rhino horn, and tortoise shell etc. as well as increasing passenger, customer, client, and staff awareness about the nature, scale, and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.
The declaration was approved recently by Turkish Airlines at a signing ceremony held at the Turkish Airlines Istanbul Headquarters, attended by Bilal Ekşi, Turkish Airlines Deputy Chairman and CEO, and IATA Director General, Alexandre de Juniac.
“With this declaration, we as Turkish Airlines are not only underlining one of the most important environmental issues of our times, trafficking of wildlife, but we are also setting an example of responsibility. Today with this signature we hope that we are contributing to the level of awareness on the issue and smoothing the path for legal enforcement procedures against the traffickers,” said Mr. Ekşi during the signing ceremony.
Mr. de Juniac said: “The illegal wildlife trade threatens to extinguish many of the world’s most iconic and special creatures. The global connectivity built by the aviation industry is being exploited by traffickers, but through coordinated action with our industry partners, and assisting the proper authorities, we can help to end this dreadful trade. We welcome Turkish Airlines’ commitment to join this fight, symbolized in its signature to the Buckingham Palace declaration.”
Airlines’ commitments expression and demonstration of agreement to tackle the illegal wildlife trade are listed as follows:
Adopt or encourage the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade.
Increase passenger, customer, client, and staff awareness about the nature, scale, and consequences of illegal wildlife trade.
Promote the Declaration and its Commitments across the entire transport sector and encourage all in the sector to sign up to the Declaration.
Develop mechanisms to enable the transport sector to receive timely information about the transport of suspected illegal wildlife and their products, including methods of transportation, key routes, ports and other locations.
Enhance data systems, including due diligence and risk assessment, to allow the transport sector and/or enforcement agencies to screen data and/or cargo, to identify potential shipments of suspected illegal wildlife and their products.
Identify and promote systems for staff and the public to report suspicions in relation to the transportation of illegal wildlife and their products.
Improve the training of staff within the transport sector to enable them to detect, identify and report suspected illegal wildlife trade, and acknowledge staff who champion this cause.
Develop a secure, harmonised system for passing information about suspected illegal wildlife trade from the transport sector to relevant customs and law enforcement authorities, where permitted by law.
Notify relevant law enforcement authorities of cargoes suspected of containing illegal wildlife and their products and, where able, refuse to accept or ship such cargoes.
Establish a cross-disciplinary team working with local customs and law enforcement authorities to develop a system of best practice for combatting illegal wildlife trade in key ports.
Support the development of mechanisms by the World Customs Organisation and national customs authorities to aid the detection and prevention of trade in illegal wildlife and their products.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), APIN Public Health Initiative, has called on government at all levels to invest in the health of Nigerians by showing commitment to ownership and sustainability of HIV and AIDS response.
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole
Dr Prosper Okonkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, said this on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 in Abuja, while briefing newsmen as part of activities to commemorate the 2017 World AIDS Day with the theme: “Right to Health, Making it Happen’’.
According to him, the World AIDS Day is an opportunity to highlight the success of worldwide efforts to combat HIV and AIDS as well as the importance of continued support to end AIDS in 2030.
Okonkwo quoted Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), who said that “it was important to bring all state governments to national response by ensuring that all states have budget lines for HIV and AIDS in 2018.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NACA boss made the statement while delivering a paper entitled “Nigerian Government’s commitment to ownership and sustainability was important’’ recently.
Okonkwo said funding of HIV and AIDS was not the responsibility of the Federal Government alone, adding that health in Nigeria was on the concurrent list in the constitution, and every tier of government had a role to play.
He said APIN Public Health Initiative was determined to use its position as the U.S. Centre for Disease Control to lead implementation partners in eight states to engage state institutions and relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the partnership will drive programme sustainability, impact and achievement of each state 90:90:90 targets as well as the global agenda to end AIDS by 2030.
The 90; 90; 90 outlined targets must be achieved to end the chapter of AIDS epidemic globally by 2030.
It means by “2020, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their status.
“By 2020, 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained anti-retro viral therapy.
“By 2020, 90 per cent of all people receiving anti-retro viral therapy will have viral suppression.’’
Okonkwo said in the past five years, APIN carried out HIV testing for about four million individuals in the country with 70,655 persons enrolled on free HIV and AIDS treatment in three states of Lagos, Oyo and Plateau state.
He further announced additional five states under APIN coverage of the new Improved Comprehensive AIDS Response Enhanced for Sustainability (ICARES) Project, which he said was a great leap toward the 90 per cent UNAIDS goal.
The states are Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Benue, making APIN the lead implementation partner in Nigeria.
In commemoration of the day, Okonkwo called on Nigerians, especially men, to go for HIV and AIDS test, to enable everyone know their status.
The chief executive officer of the NGO added that the general public could go for testing during weekends or at evenings in the designated HIV testing facilities.
This, he said was a new innovation deployed by APIN and were evidenced based strategies to ensuring that people at substantial risk of HIV had access to HIV testing.
NAN reports that APIN Public Health Initiative is an NGO dedicated to the prevention, treatment, care and support of diseases of public health concern in Nigeria, including HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
