Oluwatoyin Chukwudozie�Executive Director-Education as a Vaccine,Nigeria

Role of CSO’s in Resilience of HIV Programs During COVID 19 Pandemic in WCA- Nigeria’s Experience

Background

• The role of CSO’s and community actors in the resilience of HIV programs during the COVID-19 pandemic in the West and Central African region has been crucial, playing a significant role in ensuring that HIV services continued to reach those in need despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

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• In Nigeria, civil society actors played a crucial role in providing community services to children, adolescents, and young people living with or affected by HIV during and post COVID-19 pandemic. These actors have been instrumental in ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive the necessary support and care despite disruptions.

CSO Initiatives

Here are some of the key community services offered by civil society actors during the pandemic:

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• Advocacy Efforts
• HIV Testing Services
• Treatment Adherence Support
• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• Educational and Vocational Support

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Spotlighting-Specific Examples

APYIN

• The COVID 19 emergency relief project aims to provide relief material supports to ease the impact of the pandemic especially among adolescents and young people living with HIV who bear a disproportionate burden of HIV epidemic in Nigeria and are already at a greater risk due to compromised immune system and the distortion of regular supplies of antiretroviral medication and other services.

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• APYIN provided relief to a total of 198 AYPLHIV from October through December 2020 in 3 states with each project state reaching 22 AYPLHIV per month.

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• This reached 198 AYPLHIV AND YKPLHIV with COVID-19 PPEs, Nutritional Support, ART Drug Pick Up Transportation cost

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Spotlighting-Specific Examples

APYIN

• Sensitization about COVID-19 vaccine was also done.
• Successful advocacy conducted at the state level to relevant stakeholders led to increased moral support from state SACA officials
• Increase in adherence to ARV drug was achieved due to this project.

Spotlighting-Specific Examples

ASHWAN

• Community awareness for uptake of COVID Vaccine and education for COVID Prevention (TV,Radio Jingles,) for women living with HIV

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• Awareness creation using different media for GBV Reporting and prevention among women and girls living with HIV during the lockdown as cases of GBV was on the increase

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• Conditional cash transfer for 10,000 women across 15states to support them during and after the lockdown.

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Spotlighting-Specific Examples

ASHWAN

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• Community Pharmacy initiative where members continued taking their ARV’s without interruption during the lockdown. (Community Pharmacist/Mentor Mothers pickup drugs from facilities and deliver it to homes of PLHIV and provide home based care services.

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• Distribution of palliatives

Challenges

• Civil Society were not considered essential workers so movement restrictions affected the initiatives in the beginning

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• Limited resources to provide rapid response

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• Limited coverage also due to resources and country size

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• Lack of digital infrastructure- to transform fully to virtual service delivery.

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• Limited access to essential supplies.

Conclusion

• In summary, CSO’s in Nigeria in collaboration with the government were instrumental and resilient amidst numerous challenges in providing essential community services to women, children, adolescents, and young people affected by HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• These efforts were critical in ensuring that communities continued to receive the care, support, and resources necessary to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.