Lawyers Alert, MHR Highlight Gender Related Barriers fueling HIV, TB, Malaria prevalence in Akwa Ibom State
By Ekemini Simon
Lawyers Alert, a legal and human rights organization committed to ensuring access to justice and promotion of health rights with focus on women and vulnerable groups in partnership with Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR) have identified gender related barriers that fuel HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria prevalence in Akwa Ibom State with recommendations on how they can be addressed.
Akwa Ibom State is reported to contribute about 20 percent of TB cases identified across Nigeria while standing as the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 5.5 in the country. According to Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2021, Malaria prevalence in children under five years in Akwa Ibom was 20.7 percent. Statistics also show that 70 percent of reported Malaria cases involve children under five and pregnant women, who are especially vulnerable.
At the second day of the 2-Day start-up meeting on Gender Equality Fund Project by Lawyers Alert in partnership with MHR held in Uyo on the October 16, 2024, Lawyers Alert identified stigma and discrimination, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, lack of awareness as topmost among key gender related barriers that fuel HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in the State.
This was part of the organisation’s finding on the mapping of 16 Civil Society Organisations in Akwa Ibom State working on HIV, TB and Malaria.
Other barriers identified included patriarchal social norms and non gender sensitive programming.
To address this concern, Lawyers Alert called for improved policies and inclusive gender approaches for TB, HIV, and Malaria.
The organization noted that there is a need for a policy regarding discrimination against TB coupled with increased women’s participation in leadership at national and community levels.
Lawyers Alert asked for increased involvement of men in caregiving and response to HIV/TB/Malaria interventions together with increased advocacy and awareness creation to stop stigma and discrimination.
They called on the Akwa Ibom State government to take full ownership of the HIV intervention.
Other recommendations made included the need for data consistency to be in place to track cases of HIV, TB, and Malaria coupled with the need to implement widespread testing for Malaria and distribution of mosquito nets.
The added “Conduct door-to-door sensitization and promote clean living and sanitation practices. Provide free malaria test strips and address functional gaps in primary health centers.
“Improve lab access and functionality in rural communities. Interventions should focus on persons who deliberately refuse treatment after diagnosis.
Develop interventions targeted at prevention. Advocacies for Primary Healthcare Development Agencies to assign staff to PHCs instead of the service commission”.
The event witnessed presentations from partners.