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Suite F Austin TX
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In commemoration of Global Handwashing Day 2023 with the theme “Clean Hands Are Within Reach,” AYGF, in collaboration with the USAVE Foundation, celebrated the day at the Government Day Secondary School, Bwari. This annual event aims to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as a simple yet effective way to prevent diseases and save lives. Since its inception in 2008, the Global Handwashing Partnership has been promoting this vital practice in over 70 countries, reaching more than 120 million children worldwide.
Global Handwashing Day is an initiative supported by the Global Handwashing Partnership, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). It serves as an advocacy day dedicated to increasing understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap. This event not only underscores the significance of this basic hygiene practice but also provides an opportunity to develop creative approaches to encourage people to wash their hands at critical times.
Nigeria, a country with a population estimated at over 218 million people, faces significant water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges. According to data from WASHNORM in 2021, only 67% of the population has access to basic water supply services, with just 13% being safely managed. Access to basic sanitation services stands at 46%, with only 18% safely managed, while 23% of the population practices open defecation. The statistics for basic hygiene services are alarmingly low, with only 17% of the population having access to them. These numbers highlight the urgent need to address hygiene issues related to diseases like dysentery, diarrhea, and deworming.
Goal: Improving service delivery and access to nutritional support for children and nursing mothers, while helping the youth and vulnerable population make informed and healthy decision on their mental, sexual and reproductive health and other public health related issues.
Overall Objective: Reduce mortality and morbidity of malnourished children, and strengthen Maternal and Infant Health Delivery services, help the young and vulnerable population make informed and healthy decision on their mental, sexual and reproductive health and other public health issues. KEY ACTIVITIES
1. Malnutrition treatment programs and capacity-building for the prevention, detection, and management of malnutrition at health facilities and the household level for health workers and nursing mothers
2. Sensitization programs to increase community awareness on infant and young child feeding, COVID-19 Vaccination, Malaria, Tuberculosis etc.
3. Sensitization programs to ensure access to age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate information and education.
4. Capacity Building Training on sexual and reproductive health for Community and religious leaders
5. Capacity strengthening programs on provision of quality, services related to sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights to vulnerable adolescents for health care professionals
6. Counselling and testing services for HIV, and other STIs. Distribution and promotion of condoms for safer sex, distribution of IEC materials providing evidence-based information about available methods of contraception
7. Strategic partnerships with associations of PWD, CSOs, CBOs, Faith-based organizations
8. Dialogue sessions on increased allocation for mental health, social awareness of mental health between, associations of people with living with disabilities, key health workers and government authorities
9. Training Capacity Building of local relevant stakeholder groups (Government agencies, health practitioners, community and religious leaders) about mental health to provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health services in community-based settings 10. Media awareness and campaigns to increase public knowledge and understanding to reduce stigmatization and discrimination against persons living with mental illness.
1. The youth and vulnerable population are provided access to age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and education.
2. Religious leaders and community leaders have adequate knowledge on sexual and reproductive health to enhance their knowledge and skills for providing comprehensive sexuality education and counselling.
3. The capacity and knowledge of health care professionals are strengthened to provide appropriate quality, services related to sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights to vulnerable adolescents
4. Key health workers and government authorities understand and promote education and social awareness of mental disorders and increased resource allocation for mental health
5. Public knowledge and understanding about mental health are increased reducing Stigmatization and discrimination due to mental health.
AYGF is implementing a World Bank project on Nutrition tagged Accelerating Nutrition in Nigeria-ANRiN. The objective of the project is to increase access and utilization of integrated, community-based Basic Package of Nutrition Service (BPNS) in half of Kogi and Niger State according to established and agreed targets (for quality and coverage) to reduce the level of malnutrition in States.
•AYGF has so far reached out to over 2000 HIV/AIDS most vulnerable and affected people in communities across Africa through advocacy campaigns and engagement with local NGOs, CSOs and CBOs.
• The Organization has fought tirelessly against HIV/AIDS stigmatization and discrimination across Africa by enforcing the right of people infected and or affected by the virus via advocacy and legislations.
• The Organization has a special Motivational Department for people living with HIV/AIDS, to give them a sense of belonging. This is done through voluntary counselling and testing.
• The organization was actively represented in the International Conference on AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections in Africa. {ICASA 2005}. Held in Abuja, Nigeria. AYGF helped to facilitate the youth forum. International Conference on AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections in Africa. {ICASA 2005}. Held in Abuja, Nigeria. AYGF helped to facilitate the youth forum.
• An advocacy campaign against the spread of Malaria has been successfully carried out by the organization in over 50 communities and schools across Nigeria, long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed at subsidized rate to pregnant women during the organization’s outreach programs in 6 communities in Benue State, F.C.T and Kogi States respectively. Also, there was a monthly youth mentoring programme of safe practices against Malaria at the Millennium Park, Abuja – Nigeria.
• AYGF carried out an advocacy visit / capacity building exercise at Abaji Area council on the 9th March, 2008 under the support of Global Fund through the FCT Civil Society on HIV/AIDS (FCT)
. • Community Advocacy Campaign on Malaria prevention to Ado, Oju and Buru LGAs respectively and 12 secondary schools in Otukpo, Gwer and Logo LGAs all in Benue State which targeted pregnant/expectant and nursing mothers and youth groups in 2010.
• AYGF has executed a project on ‘School/Community Outreach on Malaria’ in FCT, Abuja. It was piloted to the schools and communities; the activities implemented in the communities included community advocacy, free anti-malaria drug distribution, free malaria treatment for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children below 5 years. While in the schools, 20 students and 10 teachers were trained as peer educators selected from the 10 schools in the six Area councils.
• In 2004 AYGF organized a community and youth interactive forum at Lugbe community in Abuja where issues of constructive and peaceful youth participation in political and democratic processes was strongly advocated.
• Election Monitoring and observation in Nigeria 2007 general election under the West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) with funding from UNDP.
• AYGF participated in a forum on the 2007 General Election and challenges of youth thuggery /violence in Nigeria.
• AYGF participated in the Crisis mitigation mechanisms with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution against the 2007 general election in Nigeria at Makurdi, Benue State and Ilorin, Kwara State. It was sponsored by UNDP.
