The Lagos State Government has empowered People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the State with equipment, training and start-up grants for self-establishment and economic independence.
Making the presentation of sewing machines to beneficiaries on Tuesday, at the Head Office of Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA), the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke stated that the Agency will continue to give top priority to all the needs of HIV/AIDS clients in the State.
She said, “As the pioneer agency for the management and control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, LSACA will continue to blaze the trail regarding the fight against the disease in Lagos by caring for People Living with HIV/AIDS”.
Dr. Adeleke said the empowerment programme was a follow-up to the promises made during the celebration of the World Aids Day two weeks ago as well as the flag-off by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on the use of oral self-testing kits in the Southwest, stressing that the initiative is a reflection of the inclusive governance policy of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.
While emphasising the importance of the empowerment programme and the collaborative strides of the Agency with other relevant Ministries in the State, the CEO stated that 50 beneficiaries were carefully selected in the category for free four weeks vocational training by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
In her words: “It will be difficult to eradicate HIV/AIDS if the economic empowerment of our clients are not considered. It is realised that if one is hungry, there is the likelihood of embarking on risk-taking behaviours, therefore this empowerment initiative has become imperative”.
“It also gladdens my heart to inform all our beneficiaries that one of our line ministries, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has partnered with LSACA to give a free four-week vocational training as part of their contributions to mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the State”, she added.
Also, in the spirit of evidence-based programming, Dr. Adeleke presented another set of beneficiaries with grants for the coordination of their meetings so as to ensure the capturing of non-health data for accurate planning and policy implementation.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the State Co-ordinators, Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN) and Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mrs. Victoria Mba and Mr. Patrick Akpan respectively, commended the State Government and LSACA for the empowerment initiative, assuring that the equipment, grants and skills acquired shall be put to judicious use.
