OSACA/NACA Holds 5-Day Gender and Human Rights Assessment to Strengthen HIV Response in Osun
…Dr. Daramola: “Ending AIDS by 2030 Possible Only If We End Stigma and Discrimination”…
The Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS, OSACA in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS held a 5-day Gender and Human Rights Self-Assessment of Programmes and Capacity Strengthening Workshop for the State Response Team.
Declaring open, the workshop which held at Awesome Hotels Conference Hall, Osogbo, the Executive Secretary of O’SACA, Dr. Olusegun Daramola, said the exercise was critical to ensuring that no group is left behind in the state’s HIV response.
At the programme implemented under GC7, Dr. Daramola noted that while Osun has made significant progress under Governor Ademola Adeleke, data and field reports show that women and girls, key populations, people living with HIV, adolescents and rural dwellers still face barriers to accessing care due to gender inequality and rights violations.
According to him, “The HIV response is not just about medicine and testing. It is about people. And people live within systems shaped by gender norms, culture, stigma, discrimination, and human rights realities.”
Dr. Daramola said the workshop deliberately brought together MDAs, CSOs, NGOs, the media, and development partners because the HIV response is multi-sectoral. No single agency can do it alone.
The Executive Secretary charged the participants to participate fully, and he reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a response that “leaves no one behind.” He said outcomes from the workshop will be used to review policies, retrain service providers, and engage communities differently.
He commended the State Response Team led by Mr. Oyeleke J. and all partners for driving the process. adding that Ending AIDS in Osun by 2030 is possible only if we end stigma, end discrimination, and uphold the rights and dignity of every Osun citizen, Dr. Daramola stated.
Earlier in her remarks, Favour Iyamu, NACA Assistant Chief Programme Officer said the Gender and Human Rights Self-Assessment for HIV Programmes in Osun targets CSOs, Media, MDAs for Capacity Strengthening of State Response Team
She added that the Capacity Strengthening Workshop for members of the State Response Team, SRT is aimed at strengthening Osun’s HIV response by integrating gender equity and human rights principles into programme design and implementation.
Highlighting the GC7 thematic areas on HIV/Hepatitis B/Malaria eradication, such as Justice, Advocacy, Awareness, among others, she said the self-assessment of existing HIV/AIDS programmes in Osun State using a Gender and Human Rights framework, is to identify gaps, barriers and best practices in service delivery that affect women, men, key populations, and other vulnerable groups.
Supported by Michael Iyevhobu Assistant Programme officer, she opined that the capacity building also aim to mainstream gender and human rights into HIV planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, as well as develop actionable recommendations to make HIV services more inclusive, non-discriminatory, and accessible to all residents of Osun State.
The participants share field experiences on how gender and human rights issues affect access to HIV services in communities, contributed to the development of the state action plan for strengthening gender-responsive and rights-based HIV programming to achieve a more equitable and effective HIV response in Osun.