United States CDC Empowers 734,000 People Living with HIV in Nigeria

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said that no fewer than 734,000 people living with HIV have benefitted from its  Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) interventions programme across 19 states of Nigeria.
The OVC Programme Specialist, CDC Nigeria, Dr Femi Oke, who stated this in his presentation at a CDC Nigeria Roundtable Media yesterday in Abuja, explained that the US CDC Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme delivers child-focused, family-centred interventions that seek to improve the overall wellbeing of the vulnerable children and their families

He also said that the programme sought to mitigate the impact of HIV on children and families by discouraging stigmatisation of the affected persons.
According to him: “Almost 734,000 people living with or affected by HIV have benefitted from our Orphans and Vulnerable Children interventions across 19 states in Nigeria.”

“The programme utilises a case management approach which involves working in partnership with children and families to identify their needs, plan, and complete a series of actions with the orphans, vulnerable children, and their caregivers to achieve specific household goals.” He said.
Oke said the household economic strengthening is a portfolio of interventions delivered to reduce the economic vulnerability of families and empower them to provide for the essential needs of the children they care for, rather than relying on external assistance

“Financial literacy training helps vulnerable households understand money management and income generation as vulnerable households are now able to meet household emergency needs and take care of their children without depending on external assistance.
“Village savings and loans association groups diversified into other local businesses and some of them are now fully registered as Cooperative and Thrift Society,” He added.

Also, the US-CDC Branch Chief of the Continuum of Care and Treatment, Dr. Denis Onotu, said the OVC programme is one of the HIV/AIDS programmes funded by US government under the Presidents’ Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in support of the government of Nigeria to mitigate the scourge of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable household.
He also maintained that the OVC programme has been very efficient and impactful targeting the most vulnerable beneficiaries, children and women.
“Though a largely community focused program, the OVC programme has been able to unite, sustain and bring hope to thousands of families affected by HIV and AIDS.”

He also reiterated USCDC commitment to continue to work with deserving communities, through implementing partners and community based organizations to provide services that will improve the wellbeing and longevity of their clients and keep them resilient .
One of the beneficiaries of the OVC programme, Mrs Esther Terna,  expressed her appreciation to the organisation for introducing the Village Savings and Loans Association.
She explained that the intervention had helped her start another a line of business, and send her daughter to school.