ARFH empowers 441 caregivers supported by USAID

The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), in partnership with Project Hope and FHI360, and support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development (MYSD), yesterday, empowered 441 beneficiaries with USAID funds across 10 local councils in the state.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs. Olayemi Oke-Osanyintolu, wife of LASEMA Managing Director, commended the ARFH on the successful implementation of the project, which serves as a reminder of the importance of children and distribution of support materials to 441 caregivers of vulnerable households to strengthen their efforts.

She urged the caregivers to use the materials judiciously and not misuse them.

Also, Chief of Party to the project, Dr. Felix Iwuala said the project seeks to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children and their households, which is a five-year project from 2019 to 2024, with a critical mass of 13 community-based organisations.

He said the project would facilitate the identification of HIV-positive children, linkage to treatment and supported to achieve viral load suppression.

“The scope of services to vulnerable children and their caregivers include the healthy domain, which has to do with HIV case finding activities, linkage of treatment, adherence assessment counselling and support, nutritional assessment to mention a few, the safe domain which includes legal and social protection, school domain for the enrollment and re-enrollment of out of school children back to school, the stable domain which has to do with the financial literacy, house economic strengthening, provision of agric inputs and improved seedlings to mention a few”. He added.

The Chief Executive Officer of ARFH, Dr. Kehinde Osinowo urged the beneficiaries to sustain the empowerment materials to avoid being vulnerable to diseases and premature death.