HFDI Participates In Adolescents Young Persons Program, Gets Appreciation Of CCCRN

By Ifeoluwa Nelson,

Hope for Family Development Initiatives, HFDI has participated as one of the Civil Society Organizations CSOs for the Adolescents and Young Persons Program, AYP in Akwa Ibom state alongside eight other organizations.

The program organised by Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research CCCRN at its maiden meeting, mentioned nine CSOs implementing ICHSSA1 in the state, and added that only 4 CSOs piloted the program in the 3 senatorial zones.

The Peer Educator, Peer Facilitators, Program managers, CPMs and CCCRN program team were all on ground to report and give feedbacks on the program which was implemented for 6 months.

In the reports and updates presented, 500 Adolescents were reached with HIV prevention messages through the PEs and PFs across the 4 CSOs. CCWs were also part of the program by mobilising both beneficiaries and non beneficiaries to the once in a month meeting, for 3 months before graduation of the Adolescents, who were categorised into groups of 9-11, 12-14, 15-17 and 18+.

The program managers also gave a report on the virtual space created online, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, etc, adding that challenges to effective online space for Adolescents in the rural areas were identified as lack of smart phones, power supply, data, and lack of interest.

HFDI program manager Uchenna Uwaoma, pointed out that one on one session with some of the adolescents in Ikot Umiangede, was a tool used by the CSS/Gender officer of HFDI, Daniel Williams, which was a success because participants turned out for the meeting and were empowered with skills on zobo making, etc,

The Hope for Family Development Initiatives, HFDI was greatly lauded for this innovative feat of the AYP program, and other CSOs were encouraged to emulate HFDI and imbibe the culture of being proactive.

Steps such as gathering evidence of number of Adolescents with access to Internet both beneficiaries and non beneficiaries, and adding them to the virtual spaces created, passing across HIV prevention messages, referring those who are yet to know their HIV status to HTS testing, among others was discussed by the STL.

The Akwa Ibom State Agency for control of AIDS (AKSACA) were also part of the meeting and gave their goodwill messages.