UNFPA, ESLF ORGANISE 3-DAY WORKSHOP ON ENHANCING POSITIVE LIVING AMONG YOUNG PERSONS LIVING WITH H.I.V.
Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) has again been commended for its consistent intervention in health matters especially the management and treatment of HIV/AIDS and cancer in the State.
Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea gave this commendation at the opening of a Three-Day Training Workshop on “Positive Living for Young Positives” organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with ESLF in Makurdi.
Dr. Ngbea who disclosed that he had in the past worked with the Foundation in the area of cancer treatment, surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, underscored the huge cost involved and praised ESLF for footing the bill of many patients.
The Commissioner praised the participants at the workshop for deciding to distinguish themselves through positive thinking about their future and pledged his Ministry’s commitment to eradicating HIV in 2030.
He stressed the need for organisations to maintain accurate data to attract support from his Ministry as well as counterpart funding from donor agencies.
Also Speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi who praised the youths for participating in the workshop, pointed out that Persons Living with HIV could still live normal lives, get married and bear healthy children who are free of the virus.
Mrs. Igirgi urged them not to self-discriminate but participate fully in all societal activities ranging from sports, social events to even vie for elective positions, and urged them to step down the knowledge gained to their peers who were not privileged to attend the workshop. She commended UNFPA and ESLF for providing psychosocial support and urged them to remain supportive of vulnerable persons.
Making his remark, Director General, Benue Planning Commission, Dr. Sam Unom, commended UNFPA’s consistent support for people of the State since 2009 and appreciated the Office of the First Lady for helping vulnerable persons through her Foundation. The Director General who was represented by the Director Technical, Mrs. Iember Dagih urged participants to maintain self-esteem so as not to become vulnerable to sexual and other various forms of abuse.
In their separate contributions, representatives of the Executive Secretary, Benue State Action Committee on AIDS (BENSACA), Dr. Gideon Dura, and the Co-ordinator of NYNETHA Public Health and Development Initiative, Benue State, Mr. Benjamin Anhange, appreciated the collaboration between UNFPA, ESLF and the State Planning Commission towards impacting the lives of young persons.
The facilitators at the workshop, Mr. Ali Baba, Solomon Ogwuche and Phillip Idoko took participants through various modules such as the framework of Positive Health Dignity and Prevention, Stigma and Discrimination, as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
The theme of the three-day workshop is, “Enhancing Positive Living Among Adolescents and Young People Living with H.I.V”.