AWAKA GO FORWARD INT’L
CENTRE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (A non-profit Development Organization)
Head Office: P. O. Box 132, Ndegbelu Awaka Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria,
Phone: 08033831740, E-mail:awakagofwd@yahoo.com
in collaboration with
GEODORA SAMARITANS INC.
Community Development, Women Empowerment, Poverty Reduction, HIV/AIDS Campaign
Geodora House, 152 Tetlow Road, P. O. Box 273, Phone: 083 231430, Owerri, Imo State.
E-mail: geodora3@yahoo.com; Website: geodora-samaritans.org.
REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP CLASS ON “KEEP THE PROMISE” ON MDGS ITEM NO.6 (HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL) LETTERS TO THE WORLD HELD ON MONDAY 22ND MAY 2006:
This one-day workshop class tagged: “Keep the Promise” was organized by Awaka Go Forward Int’l in collaboration with Geodora Samaritans Inc.
OPENING:
The workshop opened at 9.30.a.m. with a group prayer at the venue, Geodora House 152 Tetlow Road, Owerri.
ATTENDANCE:
Over 80 participant from within and outside the state were in attendance.
OPENING REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT G.S.I.
The President of Geodora Samaritans Inc. Nze Dr. George Onwuanibe gave opening remarks. His remarks centered on precautions on how to avoid being infected with HIV/AIDS. According to him, since the first reported medical case of HIV/AIDS, millions of lives have been lost to the virus yet millions are getting infected on a daily basis. According to him, the essence of the day’s gathering is to interact with participants, make them understand modes of transmission, how to prevent infection and finally, write to our leaders to keep the promises they have made in relation to people living with HIV/AIDS.
He concluded by wishing all participants a successful workshop class.
1ST CLASS SESSION:
The first class session, which centered on knowing participants’ level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS issues as well as correct their myths and misconceptions, was taken by the Programme Manager of Geodora Samaritans Inc., Mr. Nwamadi Richard O.
In his interaction with participants, Mr. Nwamadi traced the meaning and genesis of HIV/AIDS. He mentioned that the first reported medical case was in the USA in 1981. Since then, according to him, countries all over the world have had several millions of cases resulting to deaths, stigmatization, discrimination, and other attendant problems. He noted that the human body has soldiers that protect it against infections. The HI Virus attacks and destroys these soldiers, making the body prone to infections, which it would have ordinarily fought. As a result, sicknesses called opportunistic infections would be attacking the person like:
prolonged stooling (diarrhea)
severe headache and fever for more than one month;
prolonged coughing for more than one month;
loss of body weight up to 10%
It is as a result of these signs, that the person could be diagnosed and confirmed to be having HIV, although the first few months (3 months) of infection may not indicate the presence of the virus. This is called window period and the person can infect others at this time. He noted that early dictation and possible medical attention could still see the person living positively with the virus for many years if the person can keep to medical directives on how to use the recommended Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARV) and positive behavioural change.
A statistical record of the spread in some countries is as shown below:
SUMMARY OF HIV/AIDS BURDEN ON COUNTRIES:
SN COUNTRY TOTAL
1. South Africa 6.3m
2. India 4.9m
3. Nigeria 3.9m
4. Zimbabwe 1.8m
5. Tanzania 1.6m
6. Ethiopia 1.5m
7. Mozambique 1.3m
8. Kenya 1.2m
9. Democratic Republic of Congo 1.1m
10. USA 960,000
11. Malawi 900,000
12. China 840,000
13. Zambia 820,000
14. Russia 660,000
SUMMARY OF HIV/AIDS BURDEN IN NIGERIA:
SN STATE TOTAL %
1. FCT 8.4%
2. NIGER 7.8%
3. KADUNA 6.0
4. GOMBE 6.8
5. TARABA 6.0
6. EDO 4.3
7. ADAMAWA 7.6
8. PLATUAU 6.3
9. NASARAWA 6.5
10. ENUGU 4.9
11. IMO 3.1
12. ABIA 4.3
13. DELTA 5.0
14. BAYELSA 4.0
15. RIVERS 6.6
16. BORNO 3.2
17. YOBE 3.8
18. ZAMFARA 3.3
19. SOKOTO 4.5
20. OYO 3.9
21. BAUCHI 4.8
22. LAGOS 4.7
23. EKITI 2.0
24. KEBBI 2.5
25. KATSINA 2.8
26. JIGAWA 2.1
27. KANO 4.5
28. BENUE 9.3
29. EDO 4.3
30. KOGI 5.7
31 OSUN 1.2
32. OGUN 1.5
33. AKWA IBOM 7.2
34. C/RIVER 4.5
35. EBONYI 4.9
SUMMARY OF HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC – DECEMBER 2004:
SN PARTICULARS ADULTS WOMEN CHILDREN TOTAL
1. NO. OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS 37.2m 17.8m 2.2m 39.4m
2. People newly infected with HIV/AIDS 2004 4.3m 640,000 4.9m
3. Deaths as a result of AIDS 2.6M 640,000 3.1M
4. No. of PLWHA in Sub-Saharan Africa 25.4m
5. Deaths as a result of AIDS in SS Africa 2.3m
6. No. of PLWHA in Nigeria 3.8m
(No. in millions)
During the interactive session, Mr. Nwamadi corrected a lot of myths and misconception on HIV/AIDS, which include:
That HIV can be cured through having sexual intercourse with a virgin; (false)
Taking one’s urine can cure HIV, (false)
HIV can be contracted through juju or evil spirit; (false)
HIV can be contracted through insect bites (false)
HIV is a punishment from God to stop people from living immoral live styles (subject to dialogue)
Mr. Nwamadi noted the following as possible ways of getting infected:
Through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal, oral or vaginal) with an infected person;
Through sharing body-piercing objects (clippers, blades, needles, etc)
Through transfusion of infected blood to an uninfected person;
Through infected mother to unborn child (MTCT)
He went further to note that HIV cannot be transmitted through the following:
physical body contact with infected person when there is no open wound;
insect bites,
sleeping, eating, and using toilet facilities together,
Sneezing or coughing.
He advised that infected pregnant mothers should hasten to health care providers for directive on anti-retroviral, the drugs that slow down the effect of the virus.
After entertaining questions from participants, he concluded his lecture.
2ND CLASS SESSION:
This session was taken by Miss Iheoma Okoro, Programme Officer for Awaka Go forward Int’l. She shared real life stories of people living with HIV/AIDS. Her talk centered on how People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are discriminated against, stigmatized and denied of their human rights. Lots of participants were emphatic in this session and gave their real life experiences.
3RD CLASS SESSION:
Mr. Nwamadi handled this session. He tried to let participants know why it is important for us to speak with one voice concerning keeping the promise made to PLWHA. He noted that at the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session, (UNGASS) held in New York, The President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as well as other world leaders gave 8 Goals tagged “Millenium Development Goals” to be met by the year 2015. According to him, although the governments at various levels are doing their best, yet a lot needed to be done to meet these goals hence we should speak with one voice and remind them of their promises.
This session was participatory as all participants were grouped into five to bring up their ideas and contributions on how best to address this issue. After the group work, there was group presentation.
4TH CALSS SESSION:
This session was taken after tea break. It was centered on directing participants on how to write the Keep the Promise letters. Mr. Nwamadi and Miss Okoro jointly handled this. The official ways of writing letters were discussed as well as the very topic and contents of the letter.
COLLATION AND DISPATCH:
At the expiration of the letter writing session, the letters were collated, parceled and dispatched to New York, venue for the 2006 United Nations General Assembly Special Session between 31st May and 2nd June 2006 at which the Head of States and Commander in Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would be attending.
CLOSING:
On exhausting the agenda, Mrs. Emelda Ihekwaba led a closing prayer at 4.30p.m. After which Mr. Nwamadi granted an interview session on the workshop class, outcome and successful completion.
APPRECIATION:
I wish to congratulate the Organizers of this workshop class for painstakingly seeing to its completion. Of special mention is the President of Geodora Samaritans Inc. Nze Dr. George Onwuanibe who single handedly sponsored the workshop class.
Also of note are Evangelist Peter Chima and Iheoma Okoro of Awaka Go Forward Int’l for their initiative and contributions; my co-workers, who made very frantic contributions in one way or the other to see to the success of this workshop class.
Finally, I thank God for His gift of life and knowledge to plan and execute this workshop class. To all of you I owe a special credit.
Nwamadi, Richard O.
Programme Manager,
G. S. I.
REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP CLASS ON
“KEEP THE PROMISE”
ON MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) ITEM NO.6 (HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL)
LETTERS TO THE WORLD
ORGANIZED BY:
AWAKA GO FORWARD INT’L
CENTRE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (A non-profit Development Organization)
Head Office: P. O. Box 132, Ndegbelu Awaka Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria,
Phone: 08033831740, E-mail:awakagofwd@yahoo.com
in collaboration with
GEODORA SAMARITANS INC.
Community Development, Women Empowerment, Poverty Reduction, HIV/AIDS Campaign
Geodora House, 152 Tetlow Road, P. O. Box 273, Phone: 083 231430, Owerri, Imo State.
E-mail: geodora3@yahoo.com; Website: geodora-samaritans.org.
DATE:
MONDAY 22ND MAY 2006:
VENUE:
GEODORA HOUSE, 152 TETLOW ROAD
OWERRI, IMO STATE NIGERIA.
PRESENTED BY:
MR. NWAMADI, RICHARD O.
PROGRAMME MANAGER,
GEODORA SAMARITANS INC.
