On the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has stood with women and girls globally, celebrating their achievements and championing action to break down barriers to health, equality, and opportunity.

The foundation joined the global movement to demand an end to the inequities that hold women and girls back with an IWD commemoration on March 10 at the AHF Nigeria Benue regional office to remind everyone that when women and girls thrive, so do entire communities.

Despite decades of progress, women and girls remain disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they account for more than 60 per cent of new HIV infections. Globally, gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, reproductive rights restrictions, income inequality, and limited educational opportunities further entrench disparities.

Access to affordable menstrual health products and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education equally remains out of reach for millions, compromising dignity, mobility, and opportunity.

AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director (CPD), Dr. Echey Ijezie, said for the global event, the organisation would be hosting a forum that brings together women from Benue State government,  Mentor Mothers’ programme and mentor mothers from across AHF facilities in the Makurdi axis, including young women and girls from AHF Nigeria community, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) cohorts and female members of the Community Advocacy Club from Adaka and Agwan Jukun, Makurdi.