UNAIDS Advocates for Financing of Communities to Tackle HIV/AIDS

By: Michael Mike

UNAIDS has called for the financing of communities to tackle the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

The body in a statement on Wednesday stated that communities are essential to the sustainability of the HIV response and to broader global health efforts. They must be financed and supported in their steadfast commitment to ensuring that all people living with and affected by HIV have access to the services they need and are treated with dignity and respect.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Christine Stegling said: “The only way to end AIDS is by working together with communities. They build trust and reach people which many traditional health facilities find hard to reach—the most marginalized, and people who face stigma and discrimination,” adding that: “To end AIDS by 2030, sustained investment and support for community-led responses is crucial.”

The statement said community healthcare and support providers are too often faced with challenges—stigma, discrimination, criminalization, funding cuts, and political backlash—despite their primary role in ensuring that health services reach everyone in need, including the most vulnerable.

It added that: “Compounding this, the current crisis caused by the shift in U.S. government funding has resulted in deep anxiety and pain for many community organizations as the future of life-saving community-led HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support programmes are at risk, despite the clear evidence of the positive impact of community-led services.

“Community led services are essential to the sustainability of the AIDS response up to and beyond 2030, yet community-led responses are too often unrecognized, under-resourced and in some places even under attack. Crackdowns on civil society and on the human rights of marginalized communities are obstructing communities from providing HIV prevention and treatment services. The underfunding of community-led initiatives is leaving them struggling to continue operating as well as holding them back from expanding. If these obstacles are removed, community-led organisations can add even greater impetus to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

Vice President of the European Parliament and a long-time HIV activist, Marc Angel said: “No society can thrive where discrimination exists,” noting that: “Every right denied, every barrier imposed weakens us all. On Zero Discrimination Day, let’s make it clear: equality is not an option—it’s a necessity. We stand together.”

On this year’s Zero Discrimination Day, UNAIDS calls on countries, donors and partners to fulfill their commitments and Stand Together to support communities as they work to build sustainable HIV responses by ensuring that: Community-led organisations are able to deliver life-saving services and advocate without discrimination or harassment; Community-led organizations can legally be registered in the country they are working in and receive sustainable funding; Communities are supported in providing health services to vulnerable and marginalized groups; Communities are supported and funded in work to monitor respect for human rights including ending the criminalization of key populations, stigma and discrimination and gender inequalities; Government health services include community representatives within their structures as partners in the development, implementation and monitoring of health programmes to ensure they are accessible and acceptable to people living with HIV and marginalized populations.

The statement added that: “The sustainability of the AIDS response now and into the future is critical with communities at the centre. Now is the time to reaffirm global commitment to their leadership.”

UNAIDS Advocates for Financing of Communities to Tackle HIV/AIDS

Ngamdu community in Borno will soon get respite against rainy seasons as N1.5b project nears completion… acresal boss

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The annual rainy season flooding that used to evict residents of Ngamdu community in Borno state will soon be history as the coordinator of the Agro-climatic resilience in semi arid landscapes (acresal) Peter Yakubu has revealed.

He stated that work on all expected structures in Ngamdu to mitigate this flooding which used to overwhelm the only highway in and out of the state is well over 50% competed.

Making the revelation recently in his office in Maiduguri coordinator of acresal program Peter Ayuba stated that about N1.5 billion would be spent on the project which will involve the pulling down of about 74 homes and the laying of massive drainages in the area to curtail the litany of woes experienced by residents who used to flee from their water logged homes during the rains to avoid drowning.

He said that Governor Babagana Zulum is keen on seeing the completion of the project before the commencement of the next rains which is why he followed the world bank partners up to their office to ensure an amiable conclusion of many of the grey areas in all the flood prone areas of the state.

“Actually with the Governor’s support, we have achieved more than expected considering that most of the actions in the work plan has been implemented. I can tell you that more than 80 percent of last year’s target was achieved. The project started in 2022 and we commenced implemention in 2023 making progress up till now.

“The Governor on visiting Ngamdu last year, which you are aware of agreed to visit the world bank to see that all the details of the Ngamdu project as outlined will be achieved.

” It was in that meeting that the Governor requested the world Bank Chief to come to see things for himself after the devastating Maiduguri flood. He visited some schools, Alau Dam and bridges that were destroyed and more. ” Said the coordinator

Yakubu said that Zulum also submitted a request for support for farmers whose crops were destroyed by the last flood in Maiduguri.

Speaking on the problems created by the flood in Maiduguri, he said some of it would be included in the work plan for 2025 like desilting of river Ngadabul which is a seasonal river flowing into Lake Chad.

Bulldozer, elevators and swamp buggies have been bought to assist in desilting the rivers. Which normally should have lessened the effects of the flood if it was not loaded with too much silt.

On the Ngamdu flood plain, he told this reporter that so many houses have been affected and marked for demolition but they had to wait until the Governor approves N100m for their compensations before they can ask residents to leave their homes adding that the entire Ngamdu anti flood project will cost about 1.5b naira for now.

“We are constructing a channel through the town and the pond and it would be emptied across on the other side of the road.

“The contractor would have finished long ago but for compensations for homes to be pulled down which is supposed to have been taken care of but causing a little bit of delay.

“And this is caused because some of them made mistakes in their names and it affected their payments which is why some of them are here to correct the anomalies to get their final compensations.

“About 74 houses were involved so we are not taking the matter lightly which is why we started implementation in the early part of December. About 18 to 20,000 people above 60 years were also given some support of 50,000 each.” He noted.

The Coordinator revealed that the Ngamdu fish pond will be expanded to become larger to produce more fishes for commercial purposes.

On the plan of acresal to intervene in the Maiduguri flood, he described the collapse of the Alau Dam as an unplanned accident adding that they have however planned desilting of the rivers criss crossing the state capital to enable them mop up further floods due to rainfall.

Bakin kogi tipper flood plain

“Bakin kogi” tipper he stressed was originally 13 metres wide but the Governor does not want it that wide. “This is why he did not agree with the world bank and their specifications which insisted on 13 metres because up to eight or nine sub drainages and streams enter that place at the same time during the rains and cause flood in the surrounding settlements.

“They finally agreed on 6.9 metres for the specification of the construction and a Chinese company will soon be given the opportunity to handle it.

“It will drain Bulumkutu through the railway down to kogi tipper while another one from 777 and Bintu sugar enters there too.

“The size of the place was estimated wrongly before but partially corrected during Modu Sheriff but what we are about doing now is to ensure that the floods stops once and for all and people do not live in fear during the rains.” He maintained.

On Uba town, Yakubu posited that his agency will drain the area adjoining the Emir’s Palace and link up with the big river that passes through Lassa.

This has to be done because the terrain is flat and it affects the flow of rain water which causes resultant flooding adding that there are similar interventions in Lassa, Uba, Uvu except Askira which they have not done any form of construction and are yet to intervene.

He told this reporter that
Lassa will get about N130m, Uba about five billion naira while Uvu is just a linear drainage costing far lower.

On Askira town, the coordinator stated that the Governor directed the ministry of works Commissioner Engineer Gubio to take over the Palace of the Emir and start work.

Climate change/ Cattle management/ over grazing/ long or short term solution

On the position of his agency on cattle management, he said that over grazing management has been one of their serious management challenges so far.

Yakubu added that there has been a deliberate plan for three Ruga’s and with the one in mafa completed, they hope there will be another at Gubio and Rumigo in southern Borno respectively.

The Challenges that Nigeria must face is the free movement of cattle and all manner of animals from economic of west African countries (ECOWAS) countries.

As long as cattle keep committing atrocities in the savannah, there is no way we can have achievements in the area of consistent deforestation.

“This is because they not only eat out trees, they uproot most of our trees in northern Borno with impunity. No checks at all at the borders.

“Even the nymph trees are being eaten by Camels. If you must plant trees in northern Borno, they must be protected for about four to five years from cattle, camels elephants and all manner of animals.

“Even the cows have trampling effects on new seedlings. We succeeded in establishment of about 30 hectares of nymph trees in magumeri already, but animals are threatening these trees by eating and uprooting them. They come all the way from Kala Balge to eat up our trees.” Said the coordinator.

Our major problem is the herders who do not control the animals, they eat up the trees and the branches causing over grazing which is one of the major problems associated with climate change in the state.

“If we don’t maintain these fences they will eat up the entire foliages and that is not good for us at all. They come in from all the border states to eat up out trees and return before the rains and floods.

“Over grazing is one of our major challenge in the savannah today and we must do something to stop this frustrating challenge. They eat most of the sweet trees like Adua, Balanitis Gum Arabic rendering useless the landscape and put the terrain in trouble.

Speaking on countering measures of the state government so far, he acknowledged that the Governor has done a lot from the climate change agreement.

“The ten million seedlings raised, solarization of the town, hospitals, bore holes and a lots of CNG and electric buses are all on the streets of Maiduguri while public buildings are also using solar now.

“We were expected to calculate the amount of carbon emission in our atmosphere before we traveled for the last summit but we could not. So these are the areas we may be able to focus on that soon.” He concluded.

Ngamdu community in Borno will soon get respite against rainy seasons as N1.5b project nears completion… acresal boss

KACRAN Condemns Recent Bandit Attacks in Kaduna

…Calls for Action from Repentant Bandits

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has condemned the recent bandit attacks in Kaduna State, urging repentant bandits to take immediate action.

The group in a statement on Wednesday signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Bello said: “Today, we find ourselves compelled to issue this statement due to the deeply troubling news reported by BBC Hausa regarding attacks on villages in Kaduna State. These acts directly contravene the peace agreement established between the Kaduna State Government, local emirs, community leaders, and bandit leaders, which had successfully brought an end to over a decade of conflict in the region.”

Bello added that: “KACRAN is profoundly affected by this situation. As a peace-loving association, we have celebrated the progress made through the peace accord between the Kaduna State Government and repentant bandits. We commend the dedication and courage of the Kaduna State Governor in this endeavor and urge other governors in the Northwest to follow suit.

“In light of these recent events, KACRAN wishes to make it unequivocally clear that we categorically reject and condemn the attacks in the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.

“Our condemnation is based on the following points:

“Contradiction of Peace Efforts: These attacks occur at a time when the people of Birnin Gwari, KACRAN, and all peace-loving Nigerians are celebrating the peace accord established with repentant bandits.

“Violation of Cultural Values: Such actions contradict the principles of Pulaaku, which emphasize sincerity and the fulfillment of agreements made between disputing parties.

“Embarrassment to Peace Advocates: These attacks undermine the efforts of the Kaduna State Governor, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, and KACRAN, who advocate for peaceful dialogue to end violence against innocent Nigerians.

“Timing of Normalcy: The attacks come at a time when normalcy has been restored to Birnin Gwari, allowing for the reopening of cattle markets and the resumption of local businesses.

“Community Rebuilding: The attacks disrupt the growing relationships and forgiveness among community members who are striving to rebuild their lives after previous conflicts.

“Monitoring Peace Success: This incident occurs when both federal and Northwest state governments are closely observing the outcomes of the Kaduna peace accord to guide future actions.”

KACRAN urgently called upon repentant bandits to act swiftly to prevent further breaches of trust by a small faction of their former associates, stressing that: “It is their responsibility to safeguard the borders of Kaduna State and protect the communities from any further violence.

“We also express our deepest condolences regarding this negative development and urge residents of Birnin Gwari to refrain from any retaliatory actions that could escalate violence.

“Finally, we call upon the Kaduna State Government to extend all necessary support and cooperation to repentant bandits to help them navigate the new security challenges in the region.

“We remain committed to fostering peace and stability in Kaduna State.”

KACRAN Condemns Recent Bandit Attacks in Kaduna