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Two African Social Media Influencers Living with HIV to Address UNGA
Two African Social Media Influencers Living with HIV to Address UNGA
By: Michael Mike
Two young social media influencers living with HIV with the support of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) are on their way to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future in New York to urge world leaders to partner with them in the response to HIV.
The two, Ibanomonde Ngema from South Africa and Jerop Lima from Kenya, according to a statement on Thursday by UNAIDS, will call on leaders to invest in youth-friendly health systems, provide holistic services for young people living with HIV, and to partner with young people and communities, allowing them to lead in the response to HIV.
Executive Director of UNAIDS. Winnie Byanyima said: “Young people’s powerful and vibrant activism has driven so much of the progress made in the HIV response,” adding that: “They know what works for them. It is essential for leaders to listen to them to understand the specific challenges that young people face and how those challenges can be overcome. Leaders can only successfully plan how to end AIDS and sustain the advances made by partnering with young people living with HIV.”
The young Kenyan HIV activist. Jerop Limo, said: “I am representing not only the voices of 1.5 million Kenyans living with HIV but all people living with HIV,” adding that: “I want leaders to leave New York knowing that we are not beneficiaries, we are equal rights holders. We have a voice, we have skills and expertise and we need an equal playing field where our data is valued, where our input is valued and where our voices are heard. We want meaningful and ethical engagement of adolescents and young people in all spaces of the AIDS response.”
According to the statement, young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, are disproportionately affected by HIV. Globally, 44% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls (all ages) in 2023 and every week 4000 young women and girls around the world are infected with HIV—3100 are in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, some 3.1 million adolescents and young people (15-24 yrs) were living with HIV—1.9 million were adolescent girls and young women.
Ibanomonde Ngema, a young South African AIDS activist, said: “Governments meeting here in New York cannot end AIDS alone. They need to involve us to find solutions. We have lived experiences of HIV, from treatment to mental health, because we navigate life with HIV every day. We need to be included in policymaking so that we can take full ownership of ending end AIDS as a public threat,”
He noted that: “The world can only benefit when young people are included in the global HIV response. No conversation about HIV should take place without us, from policy to practice in communities.”
The safety decried that too often young people report facing stigma and discrimination, including from doctors and healthcare workers, when they access sexual and reproductive health and HIV services. This discourages them from seeking support and crucial information about their health, putting them at risk of HIV infection or of defaulting on treatment for those who are living with HIV.
The statement added that young people living with HIV play a critical role in the fight against AIDS in communities. They offer support and share important information about HIV that schools or parents might not talk about. They also challenge stigma and discrimination through social media, helping to save lives and encourage young people to stay on treatment.
It also added that they drive innovation in communities, for example, a self-funded project by the Youth Empowerment Group uses e-bikes to deliver antiretroviral medicines, food and adherence support to young people who often cannot attend clinics because their schooling hours conflict with clinic opening times in Namibia.
However, their transformational work is being held back because it is not being sufficiently supported. Youth-led HIV responses often operate with little or no financial and political support. At the UNGA the two young people will call on world leaders to fully support and fund their work. They will also urge leaders to uphold the human rights of young people as key to ending AIDS as a public health threat—they will call on them to protect young people’s right to healthcare, education, freedom of speech, and to provide social support to young people living with HIV.
Jerop Lima said: “Providing treatment is not enough, young people living with HIV need an education and they need a job to survive,” adding that: “We need to be seen as equal contributors and partners, and we need investment to allow us drive change. We are the leaders of the future and we need to be included now to help shape a better future for us all.”
Two African Social Media Influencers Living with HIV to Address UNGA
News
NDLEA intercepts cocaine hidden in stockfish heads, arrests 80-year-old suspect, others nationwide
NDLEA intercepts cocaine hidden in stockfish heads, arrests 80-year-old suspect, others nationwide
By: Zagazola Makama
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a large consignment of cocaine concealed in imported dry stockfish heads and arrested a key member of an international drug trafficking syndicate operating across several countries, including India.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said the seizure followed credible intelligence on trans-border criminal activities, which led to a coordinated sting operation by operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command at Ojo area of Lagos on March 19.
He said the operatives recovered 237 wraps of cocaine, weighing 5.80 kilograms, concealed inside stockfish heads locally known as “okporoko,” in three jumbo bags allegedly in possession of a 36-year-old suspect identified as Akputa Dickson Ejike.
According to him, the consignment was destined for Delhi, India.
Babafemi further stated that in a separate operation on March 25, NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos intercepted two illicit consignments heading to the United Kingdom.
He said one of the consignments contained 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in automobile filters, while the second contained 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl.
The NDLEA spokesperson added that operatives of the agency also arrested a suspected female drug baron, Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, 46, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” during a raid at her residence in Yaba, Lagos, where 135 blocks of Ghana Loud, weighing 76.30 kilograms, were recovered.
He said another suspect, Anayo Lucky Ohabiro, 39, was arrested in Surulere, Lagos, with 78 blocks of the same substance weighing 41 kilograms.
Babafemi disclosed that in Ekiti State, an 80-year-old suspect, Oke Samuel, was arrested during a special raid at Erinmo road, Efon-Alaaye, with 2.2 kilograms of skunk and methamphetamine, while another suspect was arrested in Ondo State with 894.72 kilograms of skunk recovered from an uncompleted building.
He said further operations in Benue, Edo and Taraba States led to multiple seizures, including skunk, codeine-based syrup, and cannabis concealed in animal feed, with several suspects arrested.
Babafemi added that the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued nationwide with sensitisation lectures in schools across Cross River, Adamawa, Oyo, Kano and Lagos States.
He commended NDLEA officers across the affected commands for the successful operations, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to balancing drug supply reduction with drug demand reduction efforts.
NDLEA intercepts cocaine hidden in stockfish heads, arrests 80-year-old suspect, others nationwide
Troops recover over 300 rustled livestock after clash between bandit factions
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN TANMA have recovered more than 300 rustled livestock following a confrontation involving rival bandit factions operating between Katsina and Kano states.
Sources said the development followed intelligence on movements of a faction loyal to a bandit leader identified as Muhammadu Filatan, allegedly heading towards Kano State after a clash with a rival group linked to Aleiro in Zamfara State.
The source disclosed that troops of 3 Brigade, deployed at Forward Operating Bases in Tsaure, Yanchibi, Yankwada and Lakwaya, conducted fighting patrols along the riverine boundary between Katsina and Kano states to intercept the fleeing group.
“At about 4:00 p.m., troops at FOB Tsaure made contact with armed bandits at the Gulbi–Goron Dutse axis in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, who were moving with a large herd of rustled livestock,” the source said.
He added that troops engaged the bandits in a firefight, forcing them to abandon the animals and flee towards Gidan Gora village in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Following the encounter, troops recovered a total of 120 cows, 200 sheep, 39 goats and three donkeys,” he said.
According to the source, the recovered livestock were subsequently handed over to authorities in Shanono Local Government Area.
Troops recover over 300 rustled livestock after clash between bandit factions
Troops intercept vehicle, recover 850 litres of fuel in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected illegally supplied fuel and recovered large quantities of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources said the operation was carried out at about 11:38 p.m. on March 27 by troops of 241 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Jajimaji.
The source disclosed that the troops acted on credible intelligence regarding suspected illicit activities by some filling stations in the area.
“During the night patrol, troops intercepted a vehicle along the Karasuwa–Jajiri road, but the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting the troops,” the source said.
He added that a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 34 jerrycans of PMS, each containing 25 litres, amounting to about 850 litres.
According to him, troops immediately exploited the surrounding area in an attempt to apprehend the fleeing driver, but the effort was unsuccessful.
The source said the recovered items are in military custody, while efforts are ongoing to identify the filling stations allegedly involved and arrest those responsible.
Troops intercept vehicle, recover 850 litres of fuel in Yobe
NDLEA intercepts cocaine hidden in stockfish heads, arrests 80-year-old suspect, others nationwide
Troops destroy illegal mining sites in Niger
Troops recover over 300 rustled livestock after clash between bandit factions
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