Helping Stop the Spread of AIDS in Nigeria

Nigeria has the second largest incidence of HIV/AIDS infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and the third largest incidence in the world. In 2004, there were an estimated 3.5 million people living with AIDS (PLWAs). The PLWA population is estimated to be growing at a rate of 1,500 per day, or an infection every minute, and the number of HIV positive persons in Nigeria is expected to exceed 10 million by 2010. As the population of PLWAs expands, the need for improved care and support services becomes even more critical.

Nigeria boasts a vibrant and diverse community of civil society organizations (CSOs) well positioned to respond to the needs of PLWAs. Civil society organizations, and especially faith-based organizations (FBOs), are respected leaders in their communities, with legitimacy in healthcare and education programming, extensive reach to rural areas and vast community networks. However, many are newly established, have weak management structures, weak linkages with individuals or organizations outside their faith group, or limited capacity to scale up their programming. To capitalize on their potential to meet the needs of PLWAs in local communities, Nigerian CSOs and FBOs need to strengthen their organizational capacity.

Strengthening the capacity and sustainability of indigenous national and regional multiplier CSOs within Nigeria to manage and support their local chapters and other CSOs and initiatives.
Strengthening and supporting the capacity of FBOs, CBOs, and NGOs to design, implement, monitor, evaluate and expand delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services in their communities.

Activity 1. Strengthening NGO capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS in their communities
Activity 2.  Improving the quality of life of HIV infected individuals and their families
Activity 3.  Providing quality comprehensive and compassionate care for AIDS-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)
Activity 4.  Effecting behavior change for Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) through education and alternative income-generating opportunities

LOP project results include:
• 40,459 OVCs served (17,756 reached through trained in-service teachers)
• 11,665 OVC (Acada & Reinteggration) prepared for transition into formal education through development of basic literacy and numeracy skills
• 5,121 service providers and caregivers trained in providing support to OVCs
• 5,250 widows and single mothers provided with palliative care
• 743 condom outlets opened
• 575 former female sex workers trained to promote HIV prevention
• 6,009 female sex workers reached with HIV/AIDS prevention through national prevention minimum package strategy
• 509 female sex workers clients reached with HIV/AIDS prevention through national prevention minimum package strategy
• 1,311 out of school youths trained as peer educators to promote HIV prevention
• 21,896 out of school youths reached with HIV/AIDS prevention through national prevention minimum package strategy
• 5,061 in-school children reached with HIV/AIDS prevention messages through national prevention minimum package strategy