AHF Nigeria Seeks Increased Awareness Of Girl-Child Challenges
In preparation for the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) tomorrow, October 11, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, with its partner, Strong Enough Girls Empowerment Initiative (SEGEI), will be engaging critical stakeholders, such as the Ministries of Education and Health and Women Affairs at the Lightway Academy, Wuse in Abuja, on promoting girls’ rights and bringing awareness to the challenges they face, in line with this year’s theme: ‘Our rights, our future.’
The FCT Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Secondary Education Board (SEB), National Teachers Institute, with the School Based Management Committees (SBMCs), will also join in the conversation with students (especially girls), about gaps and needs, as it relates to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) – also known as Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education (FLHE) in Nigeria, as part of initiatives to educate and empower girls to succeed by taking control of their health.
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Girls’ rights advocates will also address menstrual health management, age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education, staying in school, avoiding unplanned pregnancy, building self-confidence, and many other vital issues for girls and their health.
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At least, 129 million girls worldwide are not attending school, an issue exacerbated by inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities.
COVID-19 lockdowns also caused higher rates of gender-based violence, while teenage pregnancies skyrocketed during the pandemic.
In sub-Saharan Africa, six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years are among girls, and girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV than young men.
According to Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director: “Age-appropriate access to comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) empowers youth with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed for informed and responsible healthy choices. And in that regard, it is our duty to ensure that our youths can access age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual education for their health, dignity, and wellbeing.”
