News
4YBY Set to Promote HIV Self-Testing Habit Among Young Nigerians
An NGO Named ‘For Nigerian Youth by Nigerian Youth (4YBY)’ has launched campaign to promote HIV self-testing habit among young Nigerians.
This comes at a time when rates of new HIV cases have plummeted, even in far poorer countries.
According to UNAIDS 2018 estimates, Nigeria accounted for 240,000 of the world’s 2.1 million cases of young people living with HIV, thus setting the country as the second hardest-hit country in the world.
It is stated that one in five Nigerian youth have not tested for HIV and only 24% have full knowledge of HIV transmission. There is an urgent need to change this.
Thus a collaborative effort between Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and several U.S. universities such as the Saint Louis University, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill alongside local Nigerian partners such as the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, ID Africa and Pinpoint Media, have led to the launch of a For Youth by Youth Campaign (4YBY) to achieve an AIDS-FREE Generation in Nigeria.
The 4YBY is a team of young people, health professionals, activists, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared passion to advance Nigerian youth participation in HIV prevention.
Led by Drs. Ezechi, Iwelunmor and Tucker and a team of youth ambassadors, entrepreneurs and public health advocates, the mission of the 4YBY campaign is to promote Nigerian youth participation in innovation and entrepreneurship that will lead to sustainable solutions for HIV prevention in Nigeria.
Like it or not, young people are the key to ending the AIDS epidemic. They hold answers and solutions to pressing questions such as why young people do not test for HIV or how to promote HIV testing among young people?
As a result, to kick-off the 4YBY campaign in Nigeria, a World AIDS Day Contest (December 1ST, 2018) is planned with the goal to generate ideas from Nigerian youth themselves on how to promote HIV self-testing among youth in Nigeria.
HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a type HIV testing in which a person collects his or her own specimen (e.g. oral fluid or blood) using a simple rapid HIV test and then performs the test and interpret the result, often in a private setting, either alone or with someone he or she trusts.
It is a discreet, convenient and empowering way test and it has the potential to reach Nigerian youth who may not otherwise test.
The 4YBY campaign is centered around Increasing HIV self- testing among at-risk youth in Nigeria, providing other essential HIV prevention services such as testing for other sexually-transmitted infections, while linking those who test positive into care and treatment.
Speaking on behalf of the 4YBY campaign, Dr. Iwelunmor said, “our goal is to unleash Nigerian youth’s participation and innovation and creativity in decision making that affects their lives, starting with HIV prevention.
“We don’t mean to minimize the challenges of addressing health in Nigeria, challenges of which many of us in the health sphere are well aware.
“But as we shall see with the 4YBY campaign, these challenges also provide opportunities for youth-inspired solutions that are often missing or not given the space to flourish.
“We believe that Nigerian youth can lead the way with ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.”
According to Dr. Ezechi, “youth participation in social innovations to promote HIV Self-Testing, can help lay the groundwork not only for a vibrant economy, but for more effective youth friendly health services serving young people themselves.
“NIMR and our partners are prepared to help Nigerian youth unlock their potential so that we can achieve an AIDS-FREE generation in Nigeria. “
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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