Association of Women Living with Hiv and Aids in Nigeria has called on the federal government to establish a special trust fund for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programmes across the country.
The National Coordinator of the association Mrs. Esther Hindi made the call during a rally to mark International Women’s Day in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital.
The Association of Women Living with Hiv and Aids was among the various women’s groups that participated in the International Women’s Day celebration.
The National Coordinator, Mrs Esther Hindi stated that the major way to ensure no child is born HIV positive in Nigeria includes deliberate intervention towards initiating more programmes on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
She called on the federal and state governments to carry women living with Hiv Aids along in poverty reduction programmes especially conditional cash transfer and fuel subsidy palliative considering the economic challenges most of them are facing.
On her part, Nasarawa State Coordinator, Association of Women with Hiv and Aids Mrs Rahab Irmiya stressed the need for the state government to initiate a capacity-building and empowerment scheme for women living with Hiv to promote economic prosperity and inclusiveness.
Mrs Rahab Irmiya called on the Nasarawa State government to strengthen the relevant agencies to ensure full enforcement of the anti-stigma law to protect the rights of women living with Hiv and Aids.
She called for continuous support to Hiv mentor mothers and caregivers in the areas of transportation and funding to enable them to provide optimal services, especially in rural communities.
Mrs. Rahab Irmiya however called on women of childbearing age to always avail themselves to ascertain their Hiv status as part of steps toward reducing the mother-to-child transmission of Hiv.
This year’s theme is Invest in women: Accelerate progress”