Lawyers Alert, in collaboration with the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR), commenced a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Evidence-Based Advocacy for an Effective Gender-Responsive HIV, TB, and Malaria Response in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State supported by the Gender Equality Fund (GEF). The workshop, held from February 4 to February 5, 2025, seeks to equip civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders with strategic tools and advocacy skills necessary for eliminating gender-related barriers in healthcare access and disease response.
The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Hon. Moses Essien, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State House Committee on Health, who emphasized the critical role of gender-sensitive healthcare policies in combating HIV, TB, and malaria. In his remarks, he noted that these diseases disproportionately impact women, girls, and marginalized communities, wh often face significant challenges in accessing timely treatment and care.
“I am confident that the insights and skills gained from this workshop will help shape a more responsive, equitable, and sustainable health system, one that ensures the most vulnerable populations are not left behind and that gender-related barriers are effectively addressed,”
The Programme Manager of the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ASACA), Dr. Enobong Akpan, also delivered a speech emphasizing the urgency of stronger advocacy in light of evolving global funding priorities. He cited the recent withdrawal of foreign aid for HIV programs by the United States as a wake-up call for Nigeria to prioritize local strategies for sustainability.
“The era of integration is here. We have learned from the experience of the recent withdrawal of foreign aid for HIV by the USA, and we are working tirelessly to strengthen the local response. One of the key drivers of sustainable funding and improved healthcare delivery is strong advocacy,”
He urged participating CSOs to utilize the knowledge gained from the workshop to push for policies that guarantee long-term funding and gender-responsive interventions.
The Urgency of Evidence-Based Advocacy
Speaking at the event, Olayemi Agoro, Director of Administration and Finance at Lawyers Alert, highlighted the urgency of advocacy efforts in the face of shifting global policies. He emphasized that unpredictable decisions, such as the U.S. president’s recent executive order impacting HIV funding underscore the need for proactive engagement by Nigerian CSOs and policymakers.
“There is no time to wait. If one executive decision in the U.S. can halt a major source of HIV funding, we must realize that anything can happen. Nigeria must be ready for these eventualities, and the best way forward is through strategic advocacy for HIV, TB, and malaria responses that serve our communities effectively,”
In her address, Peace Okeshola, Legal Advisor at Lawyers Alert, reiterated the need for targeted advocacy in addressing gender-based barriers to healthcare access. She stressed that many women and girls face systemic inequalities that prevent them from receiving timely and adequate treatment for HIV, TB, and malaria.
“Advocacy plays a crucial role in raising awareness of the challenges women face in accessing healthcare. Through strategic engagement, we can drive policy changes, obtain resources, and mobilize stakeholders to create a more inclusive healthcare system,”
Ufuoma Eguriase, Programme Manager of Media, Health & Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR) noted that advocacy is at the heart of development and enjoined participants to take it as a core part of all their interventions.
The two-day workshop was designed to:
- Build the capacity of grassroots CSOs on evidence-based advocacy strategies for gender-responsive disease control.
- Raise awareness of gender-specific challenges in HIV, TB, and malaria prevention and treatment.
- Equip participants with advocacy tools to push for policy changes at local, state, and national levels.
- Promote stakeholder engagement by fostering dialogue between CSOs and policymakers.
- Develop actionable recommendations for improving healthcare access and service delivery for marginalized groups.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions, expert-led discussions, and strategy development exercises to strengthen their advocacy approaches throughout the workshop.
The workshop underscores the commitment of the Global Fund through Lawyers Alert and MHR to driving policy change and ensuring that Nigeria’s health response remains inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. As advocacy efforts gain momentum, stakeholders were encouraged to remain engaged in ongoing dialogues and collaborative initiatives that will enhance gender-responsive healthcare solutions.