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CSOs seek alternative financing in HIV response

CSOs seek alternative financing in HIV response
NAN-HG-9
HIV/AIDS
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Feb.16, 2018 (NAN) The Association of Civil Society on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ACSAN) has called on state governments to invest in HIV and AIDS response to reduce dependency on foreign donors.

Mr Nwakamma Ikenna, the Executive Secretary, ACSAN, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

According to Ikenna, the need for government commitment to ownership and sustainability of HIV response in the country cannot be over emphasised, hence the need for alternative financing.

He said that it was important to involve all the state governments in the national response as an alternative source.

This, he said, would ensure that they have budget lines for HIV and AIDS in 2018 national budget with clear commitment to release approved budgets.

He noted that funding HIV and AIDS was not the responsibility of the Federal Government alone, adding that every tier of government has a role to play in the face of dwindling funds from international donors.

“We want the state governments to support the response which will go a long way in supporting people living with the epidemic who have no access to Anti-retro-viral medication in rural communities.

“The present financing mechanism with donor partners contributing more than 75 per cent of the national funding for HIV and AID’s response is not sustainable.

“The dependency on foreign donors has lasted longer than is acceptable and some states in Nigeria have the resources to take up the responsibility such as Delta and Akwa-Ibom which are very rich states.

“HIV and AIDS is a national security issue and we want the state governments to start programming around the health of its citizens, we have heard lots of commitments, we want to see implementation,’’ Ikenna added.

According to him, government needs to express the political will, by including persons living with the epidemic in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He stressed the need for more transparency and accountability in implementation of the HIV response in Nigeria.

Ikenna said the association was set to engage the government, stakeholders, and members of the public more constructively and intellectually in providing transparency in the process.

“We will be engaging in the budgetary and legislative processes, also engaging both the state and Federal Government parliamentarians in HIV and AIDS matters.

“We will set up an accountability system in all the funded areas as well as track funds released by global fund and fund from the President Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“The association wants to know when and how funds are released as well as what they are spent on,’’ he said.

The executive secretary further decried the lack of data base in Nigeria for Persons Living with HIV and AIDs in the country.

He said that the available data, which was produced by international organisations such as UNAIDS, and UNICEF among others, does not reflect the facts about its members.

According to him, there is the need for a comprehensive data base, and urged the government to invest in developing one through the involvement of the association for a more effective response.

Ikenna also urged cooperate and public organisations, well-meaning Nigerians, and philanthropists among others to support HIV response as its social responsibility to the citizens.

“There is need to create an AIDs Trust Fund, where organisations such as Tele-communications, coca-cola companies and Government of China among others could get involved in building a healthy nation.’’

NAN reports that ACSAN is an umbrella body of recognised civil society networks in Nigeria on HIV response.

They include Association of Women Living with HIV in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Association of HIV Positive Youths in Nigeria (APYIN), Nigeria Diversity Networks, and Society for Women Against AIDS in Nigeria (SWAAN), among others.

ACSAN gives voice to stakeholders, promotes transparency quality and accountability for HIV programming. (NAN)

TIM/NNO/EEE
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Ese E. Ekama

Environment

CSOs brainstorm to meet water, sanitation SDGs

NAN-AE-4
Water
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2017 (NAN) A network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has called on all tiers of government to strengthen activities toward increasing access to water and sanitation in the country by 2030.

The National Coordinator, Mr Leo Atakpu of the network known as the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), said this at the ongoing capacity building workshop for its members in Abuja on Tuesday.

Atakpu said that it was saddening to note that Nigeria ranked low among countries with poor sanitation and water coverage, noting that with deliberate funding and programmes this trend could be reversed.

“Access to basic sanitation and potable water will go a long way to reduce preventable diseases, deaths and to improve lives,’’ he said.

Atakpu said that the activities of NEWSAN needed to be strengthened to be able to engage government at all levels for the provision of necessary funds for scaling up sanitation in all parts of the country.

He noted that governments’ budgets at all levels had little or nothing for sanitation, adding that with the recently inaugurated Partnership for Extended Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme, there was hope that it would affect lives positively.

He however called on state chapters to engage private individuals on taking ownership of funding for water and sanitation, saying all hands must be on deck to reduce open defecation in the country.

Ms. Priscilla Achakpa, the National Coordinator, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) Nigeria, urged participants to be selfless in their activities.

Achakpa said that there was need for sustained efforts in engaging state and non-state actors in scaling up Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the country.

She further urged the Federal Government to carry CSOs working on water and sanitation along in all policies and programmes, adding that they would hold governments accountable toward meeting the number six of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6).

Mr Nanpet Chuktu, the Programme Manager, United Purpose, an NGO, said that Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme was doing everything to scale up sanitation in Benue and Cross River states.

Chuktu, represented by Mr Tom Terkimbi, State Technical Officer, Benue, said that the non payment of counterpart funds was still a challenge to meeting the country’s target.

He said that the programme was raising awareness on encouraging communities to change behaviours by owning and using their toilets applying the Community Led Total Sanitation approach.

The WASH ambassador, Ms Ebele Okeke reiterated that advocacy would continue toward ensuring that the three tiers of government made water, sanitation and hygiene a priority.

Okeke, who commended participants on their activities in  scaling up water and sanitation, also called for strengthened partnership in meeting the SDG 6.  (NAN)
TAK/KOLE/GY
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Grace Yussuf