As plans to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) hots up, an NGO, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has joined the global movement to demand an end to the inequities that hold women and girls from reaching their potentials.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Advocacy and Marketing Manager AHF, Steve Aborishade and made available to newsmen on Wednesday – yesterday, March 5.
AHF Nigeria said its organization stands in solidarity with women and girls worldwide, celebrating their achievements while championing action to break down barriers to health, equality, and opportunity.
According to AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director (CPD), Dr. Echey Ijezie, ‘‘At AHF Nigeria, our desire is that we continue to uplift, empower, and advocate for a world where every woman has the chance to live healthy and prosper. Eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS is an important step to empower and uplift not just the women, but the family as a unit.’’
On her part, the AHF Deputy Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy, Loretta Wong, said, “Women and girls everywhere deserve the power, knowledge, and resources to take control of their health, futures, and lives.
“Real change requires more than words, it demands concrete commitments, including expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and economic empowerment. On this International Women’s Day, AHF reaffirms its promise to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.”
The organization urged leaders, policymakers, and communities to turn commitments into action because a just and equitable world is only possible when women and girls everywhere can claim their full rights, power, and potential.
“This year, AHF Nigeria joins the global movement to demand an end to the inequities that hold women and girls back with an IWD commemoration on March 10, 2025, at the AHF Nigeria Benue regional office to remind everyone that when women and girls thrive, so do entire communities,” the statement further reads.
AHF noted that despite decades of progress, women and girls remain disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they account for more that 60 percent of new HIV infections.
“Globally, gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, reproductive rights restrictions, income inequality, and limited educational opportunities further entrench disparities. Access to affordable menstrual health products and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education also remain out of reach for millions, compromising dignity, mobility, and opportunity,” the organisation lamented.
It said for IWD 2025, AHF Nigeria, joined by other stakeholders will be hosting a forum that brings together women from Benue State government’s Mentor Mothers’ programme and mentor mothers from across AHF facilities in the Makurdi axis, including young women and girls from AHF Nigeria community Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) cohorts and female members of the Community Advocacy Club from Adaka and Agwan Jukun, Makurdi, Benue state.
AHF Girls Act members from the communities and facilities affiliated shall also be in attendance.
The forum will examine the impact and efforts of mentor mothers while looking at ways by which they can also entrench age-appropriate sexuality education in their various communities.
The forum is also an opportunity to celebrate the exceptional champions at the forefront of eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
