International Day of the Girl Child: AHF Urges Supportive Policies to Help Girls Living with HIV Stay in School, Continue Treatment, and Prevent Unplanned Pregnancies

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has reiterated its commitment to empowering girls and young women through its Girls Act program, which operates in nearly 40 countries, equipping them with knowledge, support, and resources to remain free from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The foundation said it continues to help girls living with HIV adhere to treatment, remain in school, and avoid unplanned pregnancies.

Nigeria Country Programme Director of AHF, Dr. Echey Ijezie, therefore, called for supportive policies that would expand access to healthcare services—including sexual and reproductive health—for adolescent girls and young women nationwide.

Dr. Ijezie also advocated increased investment in prevention, testing, and treatment programs for HIV and STIs, as well as comprehensive sexuality education. He revealed that more than 4,000 young women aged 15–24 become infected with HIV each week, with over 3,300 of those cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child at Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku, Ubo, Offot, Uyo, themed “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline of Crisis,” Ijezie said the event aimed to protect girls from HIV, celebrate their achievements, and highlight the urgent need to expand opportunities for them to thrive and stay healthy.

He noted that many young girls still face poor menstrual health and limited access to reproductive services and called for concrete actions to address period poverty, promote sexuality education, and combat gender-based violence and child marriage—issues he identified as key drivers of health inequality.

In a statement signed by AHF Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborishade, and made available to The Sun in Makurdi on Saturday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Silas Etukudo, commended girls in the state for breaking barriers despite numerous challenges. She said their resilience proves that crises do not define them but rather shape their capacity to create solutions.

Etukudo pledged to create opportunities where girls’ voices and ideas would be heard, their leadership nurtured, and their potential unleashed. She further revealed that the state government is working to secure funding and develop programs aimed at empowering girls—from scholarships to health initiatives.

Also speaking, AHF State Coordinator, Dr. Ekemini Essien, noted that girls globally are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and various forms of abuse, often with fewer opportunities than boys. He urged authorities to empower girls with the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to succeed, while encouraging the girls to remain resilient and focused for a better future.

On her part, Jessica Charles, AHF’s Linkage Coordinator in Akwa Ibom, emphasized that empowerment goes beyond economic means to include access to accurate information, healthcare, education, and decision-making rights. She urged the girls to speak up and stand against all forms of abuse.

> “This is not the time to be shy about your reproductive health,” Charles advised. “Speak up against abuse. Many girls are suffering in silence because their parents cover it up. Please, speak up—there will always be someone willing to champion your cause.”

One of the participants, Rhoda Vincent, expressed gratitude to AHF for its continuous support and empowerment of the girl child, especially in promoting sexual health rights and gender equality.

During the event, AHF distributed disposable and reusable sanitary pads, as well as toiletries, to the girls.