2023 World Aids Day: MAHESD calls for Community engagement and access

In commemoration of the 2023 World Aids Day and as the World work towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemics by 2030, Media Action for Health, Environment and Sustainable Development (MAHESD) is calling on stakeholders to engage  effective Community engagement and access toward ending the HIV/AIDS come 2030.

It may interest you to know that this year's commemoration marks the 35th World AIDs Day Celebration and it is an opportunity to reflect on our journey, acknowledge and celebrate the progress we have made and recognise the challenges which community voices series suffered.

With the theme: "LET COMMUNITIES LEAD", this year's commemoration tends to focus on the need for the proper engagement of communities, because communities serve as a bridge between individual needs and broader societal structures. They are the experts on their own needs and know best how to respond to HIV in their own specific context. 

According to Sarah Oughton and Tinashe Madamombe, "this contextual knowledge is essential for ensuring that HIV prevention and care efforts are successful. By amplifying community voices and empowering communities to take charge, we can create a world where everyone has access to the care and support they need to thrive".

"Ending AIDS will only be possible when access to HIV services for marginalised communities improves. Our Community Voices series was co-created with LGBT people, sex workers, people with disabilities and others most affected by HIV. Co-creation embeds these, often over-looked community voices in our content to ensure they are heard more widely", it stated.

Therefore, MAHESD, in collaboration with the Plateau State Ministry of Health, joins the rest of the world in advocating for the effective engagement of communities in the fight against HIV/AIDs by training more Community Mobilizers in Local Government Areas to effectively drive demands in our society.

We however, wants to use this opportunity to commend Plateau State for attaining HIV treatment saturation with over 49,539 people currently on treatment and over 95% of clients virally suppressed, but urged them to work on the gap amongst the Paediatric Sub population and the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT). 

We also want to appreciate the National AIDS, STIs Control Programme of the Federal Ministry on Health (NASCP) and Global Fund (GF) for scaling up Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in all the States of the Federation, sitting over 861 in Plateau State.

E-signed

Joel K. Gomiyar

Project Officer

1/12/2023

GOV. CALEB MUTFWANG REITERATES COMMITMENT TO TACKLING INSECURITY IN PLATEAU, AS 600 OPERATIVES OF OPERATION RAINBOW PASS-OUT FROM TRAINING

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has reiterated his commitment to tackling insecurity in Plateau as he inaugurated 600 Neighborhood Watch Operatives, the state security outfit saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace in the hinterlands, codenamed “Operation Rainbow,” 

Mutfwang, represented by his deputy,

Ngo Josephine Piyo, said that the revitalisation of the state security outfit was part of his administration’s effort to ensure the security of lives and property. 

“It is my pleasure to be here for the passing out parade of the Neighborhood Watch Operatives of the Operation Rainbow. Today, we are witnessing the passing out of a crop of 600 galant operatives who were carefully selected out of the numerous citizens of Plateau state. 

“I wish to commend the Coordinator of the Operation Rainbow, the Special Adviser on Security, Chief Security Officer and other security agencies who within this short period, has transformed, tutored and nurtured these young operatives to the end products which we see before us today. 

“From the reports I have received and the parade we witnessed today, there is ample evidence that these soon to be gallant security officials have been put through the mills and have come out refined and ready to contribute their quota to the state’s effort to securing lives and property in our dear state'' 

Mutfwang stated that the revitalisation of the outfit was timely as it was coming when the state was at a critical period and needed consolidation on the gains of tackling security challenges that has ravaged the state for years. 

He urged the operatives to put in their best in securing local communities by reporting early warning signs for swift security intervention, adding that it is the state’s desire to create a conducive working atmosphere for every citizen to carry out their lawful business.

He cautioned the operatives and stated that his administration would not allow indiscipline and unprofessional conduct and must treat matters of security and safeguarding the lives and properties of citizens with utmost importance.

Mutfwang commended the NSCDC for training and accommodating the operatives and all other instructors from different security agencies for their input in training the young men and women. 

The governor expressed his sincere appreciation to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support  to state owned security outfits in the country which he said has helped to beef up the strength of security and enhance capacity to confront diverse security challenges faced by states. 

Earlier, the Coordinator, Operation Rainbow,  AIG Bashir Dabup Makama (Rtd) in a remark said that the establishment which was passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly cited as “PLATEAU STATE RAINBOW AND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH LAW 2012” and assented to on 20th March, 2013 was set up to perform community policing duties by operatives in their various localities. 

Makama stated that the modus operandi of the outfit was also to provide accurate and timely information on security situations in all wards, which are gathered and shared with appropriate security agencies including the Nigerian Police for necessary proactive measures to be taken.  

He appreciated the Caleb Mutfwang administration for revitalising the moribund security outfit promising to strengthen the security network in the state for sustainable peace, security and economic development.

He added that the operatives would ensure an enduring peace and security of lives and property in the state through the process of proper articulation and development of all embracing measures to adequately address, contain and nip in the bud, within the norms of democracy and rule of law, on issues that could potentially lead to crisis. 

Makama revealed that other batches of operatives would soon be recruited and trained to augment the number on ground and concerted efforts are being made to activate the Neighborhood Watch in all the 17 LGAs. 

Martha Nyam 

Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Plateau State. 

November 29, 2023.