GHARF NEWSLETTER (JAN-APRIL 2016). PERCEPTIONs TRANSFORM THROUGH GHARF ‘S V4C IMPLEMENTATION Voices for Change, a five year transformational program is executed by GHARF through funding from Department for International Development (DFID).

It aims at tackling social norms that promote gender inequality and exclusion of adolescent girls and women in Nigeria.

The program is targeting 5,000 people in the V4C focal states: Enugu, Lagos, Kaduna and Kano. V4C is being implemented in sixteen (16) post secondary institutions in these four states that is four institutions per state.

GHARF is working in Enugu State at two post secondary institutions; University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Institute of Management and Technology.

The key targets of the programme are men and women (aged 16-25 years) whose attitudes and behaviours are still being formed.

Through the programme, the females have become more self confident and can now stand for their rights. Their capacities have been built in the following skills: self esteem, assertiveness amongst others while adolescent boys and men’s attitude towards girls and women is positively transforming overtime.

Safe space sessions were also conducted in the two institutions to facilitate a desired shift in negative and stereotyped attitudes and behaviours towards girls and women in Nigeria, thus creating an enabling environment for positive gender relations and peaceful co- existence.

Participants during Trust Walk exercise in IMT

CCCRN, GHARF IMPROVE OVC’s WELFARECentre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria (CCCRN), through GHARF is implementing the Initiative for Good Health by improving the well being of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in four health facilities in Enugu State namely: UNTH Ituku Ozalla, Poly Sub District Hospital, Asata, Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Uwani and Ikem District Hospital.

The project targets five thousand one hundred and fifty nine (5159) children with disability , street children, children with HIV/AIDS, children that live with aged parents and children who have lost either one or both parents.

It aims at improving the well being of OVC and their caregivers and reduce the number of children living in poor households to 15% through provision of educational support and caregiver’s empowerment. This is to ensure that children in poor and vulnerable households have equitable access to and benefit from comprehensive social services.

Activities such as home visits were carried out to ascertain the well being of OVC and encourage them to live positively. Kids Club was conducted for OVC to aid psychosocial and peer group interaction amongst the children. De-worming tablets were administered to OVC during health plus activity.

Review meetings were held with Household Economic Strengthening (HES) beneficiaries to know how the grant received by the caregivers from the organization

Participants during group work in IMT

Participants during Trust Walk exercise in UNN

Group work presentation by UNN participants

is helping them, what challenges they have as well as the way forward. Through this project, OVCs well being have improved significantly. A total of 5159 vulnerable children have been provided with health and psychosocial support. Others have received Educational Materials while selected caregivers were given financial assistance under the CCCRN Household Economic Strengthening.

GHARF staff giving health talks to the caregivers Cross section of the caregivers during the meeting

during caregivers meeting

GHARF staff educating the OVC on moral behaviours and health OVC raising hands to ask questions

issues during kids club activity at Ituku community during kids club activity at Ituku

PACF project, HOPE FOR HIV (+) MOTHERSCommunity Care for Effective Reduction of Mother to Child Transmission (CARE-PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS is being implemented in four communities (Owo, Mbuluowo, Nara and Mburumbu) in Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State.

The project which commenced in the year 2015 is sponsored by UK Health Care and coordinated by Pathfinder West Africa.

Its objectives are to decrease new cases of Mother to Child transmission of HIV and increase communities HIV self-status awareness.

In the period covered by this report, baseline surveys were conducted in each community using Focus Group Discussions to elicit information from community members, Indepth interviews with policy makers and health care workers in Owo and Mbuluowo communities. The purpose of the survey was to ascertain the community members’ level of knowledge, attitudes and practices on HIV prevention issues. Health Workers were also trained to improve Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) delivery services in health facilities.

GHARF staff interviewing health worker GHARF team on advocacy visit

at Owo community to Mbuluowo community

GHARF PARTNERS WITH SFH TO IMPACT LIVESGlobal Fund HIV New Funding Model is a two and half year project implemented by Society For Family Health (SFH) through GHARF to reach Most At Risk Persons (MARPS).

These are persons highly exposed to HIV. They include: Female Sex Workers (FSWs), People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and Men having Sex with Men (MSM).GHARF is presently working with Female Sex Workers at New Garki Cattle Market and Animal Kingdom, Enugu South LGA, Enugu State.

Part of the project objectives is to improve the knowledge of FSWs on HIV prevention and control, to encourage FSWs to have zero new HIV infection by adhering to lessons taught during peer sessions and to positively change the behaviour of FSWs.

GHARF, since the inception of the project last year has successfully carried out HIV tests and STI referrals among FSWs and their peers. So far, 54 peers have been reached and those who tested HIV (+) were referred to access Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) while others were referred for STI services.

Peer sessions were conducted to discuss topics such as goal setting, self esteem, among other issues that will improve lives of beneficiaries while review meetings with Peer Educators and outreach workers were held to monitor the progress of FSWs on behavioural change, identify loop holes for correction and enhance productive service delivery, discuss challenges, best practices and know the way forward.

In this first quarter of the year, 15, 552 male Condoms, 490 female Condoms, 86 Information Education and Communication materials and 720 lubricants were distributed to beneficiaries.

In this project, the perception and behaviour of FSWs have been positively affected. Some of them now plan for their future by saving money for business as well as adopt healthy sexual practices (use of condoms correctly and consistently) to prevent further incidence of HIV/AIDS and STIs.

HPDP II rounds off successfullyGHARF successfully implemented HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project II (HPDPII) in five Local Government Areas in Enugu State with sponsorship from World Bank in collaboration with Enugu State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ENSACA).

The Local Government Areas are Enugu North, Enugu East, Nkanu East, Oji River, and Udi, while the projects thematic areas include, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Female Sex Workers and Road transport Workers.

The project which started in 2015 was concluded in the first quarter of this year. The project aimed at reducing the risk of HIV infections by scaling up prevention interventions and increase access to HIV counselling, testing, condom usage, care and support for PLHIV.

Through the project, HIV clubs were established at Umualor Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area. This is to enable children to join in the fight against HIV in schools, churches and communities. Also, Child Protection Committee was inaugurated at Umualor Ugwuoba, Oji River to help support OVC programming in the community, prevent vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, violence, exploitation and maltreatment.

There was also significant increase in knowledge among community members on sexuality and reproductive health issues and rights especially in areas of HIV prevention, consequences of premarital sex, and importance of HIV counselling and testing especially among pregnant women.

Kiddies club activity at GHARF staff performing GHARF staff addressing

Ugwuoba Recreational activity with OVC at Ugwuoba

Ovc at Ugwuoba

GHARF staff addressing RTWs during community dialogue at Oye Emene

in Enugu East

Success stories FROM PROJECTS Through the implementation of the Global Fund HIV New Funding

Model Project, one of the peers who could not do without alcohol due to low self esteem has built her esteem and has stopped alcohol consumption.

In the same vein, some of the peers that started saving money from the inception of the project have been able to save significant amounts of money after receiving a lecture on “goal setting”.

Through Voices for Change (V4C) program, the first ever female Deputy Senate President in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, emerged.

A six year old child who tested positive for HIV and was referred to Ikem District Hospital for other HIV services. During home visit, it was discovered that the child visited the hospital, collected drugs, adhered to prescription and is healthy through GHARFs implementation of Initiative for Good Health Project.

Through HPDP II project implementation, two Female Sex Workers (FSWs) have completely given up brothel life. One is seriously engaged in business centre work (photocopying) while the other is now a hair dresser.

Also through HPDP II project, FSWs in New Artisan market formed a CBO called Help Health International Initiative (HHII) through the effort and technical support from GHARF and HARTLAND

CHILDREN ARE THE FUTUREBelow are some of the Rights of the Child:

No person under the age of 18 years is capable of contracting a valid marriage, and accordingly, a marriage so contracted is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

(1) No parent, guardian or any other person shall bethroth a child to any person.(2) A bethrothal in contravention of sub-section (1) of this section is null and void.

A person-(a) Who marries a child; or(b) To whom a child is bethrothed; or(c) Who promotes the marriage of a child; or(d) Who bethroths a child commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a

fine of N500,000 (five hundred thousand Naira) or imprisonment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment

(1) No person shall tattoo or make a skin mark or cause any tattoo or skin mark to be made on a child. (2) A person who tattoos or makes a skin mark on a child commits an offence under this Law and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand Naira or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(1) No person shall cause a female child to be subjected to female genital mutilation. (2) A person who causes a female child to be subjected to female genital mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand Naira or imprisonment for a term of one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(1) No person shall, expose or involve a child in the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.(2) No person shall, expose or involve a child in the production or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. (3) A person who contravenes the provisions of Subsection (1) or (2) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

(1) No person shall employ, use or involve a child in any activity involving or leading to the commission of any other offence not already specified in this Part of this Law.(2) A person who contravenes the provisions of Subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of fourteen years. Enugu State House of Assembly passed the Childs Rights Bill into Law on Thursday, 4th August, 2016.

GENDER AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES BILL PASSES FIRST READINGA Bill to provide for Equal Rights and Opportunities for men and women passed its first reading at Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2016.

The Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB) is a direct response to concerns of right-based women non-governmental organizations over delays in domestication of gender-focused international treaties/conventions particularly the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Nigeria had signed and ratified CEDAW. Once a state party ratifies a treaty, its provisions become binding. But Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provided that a treaty shall have force of Law to the extent to which it has been enacted into Law by the National Assembly. Based on the above provision, CEDAW is not enforceable in Nigeria.

The goal of the Bill is to provide a Legislation that seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination on basis of sex and gender in private and public spheres.

Efforts by National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA), the originator of this Bill to get it passed at the National and State Assemblies started as far back as 2010.

The greatest challenge, which seems to delay the passage of this Bill in several states; is that our Legislators, most of who are males fail to understand the content and importance of this Bill. They think they will be doing women favour if the Bill is passed into Law. For most of the men, women are seeking equality with men through the Bill.

The Bill is on “Gender equality” and not on “Equality with men”. “Gender Equality” is a simple construct that ensures that men and women are represented equally in social, economic and political spheres of life. What is known as “gender development” index is the extent to which a country promotes equality in achievements between its men and women. It can therefore never be in the interest of any country if one part of the gender equation is ignored or relegated to the background in terms of representation in various aspects of life.

In Enugu State, the Bill was initiated by the State branch of NCAA. The organization is assisted by the Gender Affairs Committee Enugu State House of Assembly whose Chairperson, Hon (Dame) Lydia Omeje-Ogbu is the sponsor of the Bill as well as Enugu State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development.

The Bill has been passed into Law in Ekiti, Kogi, Imo and Plateau States.

It is our prayer that the Bill will be passed into Law in Enugu State in no distant future.

NCAA Enugu State is grateful to Department for International Development (DFID) for financing the project.

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1. GHARF2. Foundation3. Adolescents4. PACF5. Global6. PMTCT7. MSM8. OVC9. V4C10.Voices11.CCCRN

EditorialDear Reader,

This quarterly issue of GHARF’s Newsletter has many updates and interesting articles of ongoing activities in the organization. The enormous support received from donors has gone a long way in touching lives and building communities.

All GHARF donors are of inestimable value as their support has made a difference in the lives of beneficiaries in our various target communities while strengthening the NGO to effectively implement various projects.

GHARF helps people to help themselves.

Shalom Okwey.(Comm. Officer)