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West Africa
Contact Information
South Secretariat
Postal Address:
P.O. Box OS 982
Osu, Accra
Ghana
tel & fax: (+233) 21241244
mobile: (+233) 244505657
South Secretariat Project Officer:
Sydney Hushie, Ghana - (Profile)
Regional Focal Point
Esther Eshiet, Nigeria - (Profile)
National Focal Points
Eric Dombou, Senegal - (Profile)
Harry Stevens, Gambia - (Profile)
Dansi Thomas, Benin - (Profile)
Kwami Ekuka, Togo - (Profile)
Oghenefego Isikwenu, Nigeria - (Profile)
David Aburabura, Ghana - (Profile)
Thomas Barlue, Liberia - (Profile)
Dominic Maada, Sierra Leone - (Profile)
Elodie Appia, Cote D'ivoire - (Profile)
To join the West Africa regional email list, please send a blank email to GYCA-WestAfrica-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Background
National adult HIV prevalence continues to be much lower in West Africa than in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. National adult HIV prevalence surpasses 4% only in Côte d’Ivoire, and is 2% or lower in several other countries, especially those of the Sahel. As in most of East Africa, HIV infection trends are generally stable although declining prevalence has been noted among pregnant women in several cities, including Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and Lomé (Togo) (WHO, 2005). An estimated 2.9 million [1.7 million–4.2 million] people were living in Nigeria with the virus in 2005 (UNAIDS, 2006). Approximately 300 000 adults were newly infected with HIV in 2005. National adult HIV prevalence remains just under 1% [0.4%–1.5%] in Senegal (UNAIDS, 2006). Sex work still appears to be the main factor in Senegal’s epidemic. An HIV prevalence of 22% in men who have sex with men has been found.
The HIV epidemic in Mali could be growing, after having remained stable for many years. Among 15–19-year-old pregnant women, HIV infection levels have risen (from 2.5% in 2002 to 3.4% in 2005), as they have among those older than 35 years (1.5% in 2002 to 4.5% in 2005). Guinea is experiencing one of the smaller AIDS epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. Adult HIV prevalence was an estimated 1.5% [1.2%–1.8%] in 2005, and approximately 85 000 [69 000– 100 000] people were living with HIV. New HIV data is still pending for Côte d’Ivoire. Available HIV data suggest a relatively stable but serious epidemic, with at least 4% of adults living with HIV in 2005 (UNAIDS, 2006).
HIV data for Togo also point to a serious epidemic. Overall adult HIV prevalence was an estimated 3.2% [1.9–4.7%], and about 110 000 [65 000–160 000] people were living with HIV in 2005 (UNAIDS, 2006). Neighboring Bénin has a smaller epidemic with about 87 000 [57 000–120 000] people living with HIV in 2005 and adult HIV prevalence estimated at 1.8% [1.2%–2.5%] (UNAIDS, 2006).
In Ghana, where adult HIV prevalence was estimated at 2.3% [1.9%–2.6%] in 2005 (UNAIDS, 2006), there are signs that the country’s epidemic could be in decline. Research conducted in three prisons in Nsawan and Accra in Ghana has uncovered high HIV prevalence among inmates (19%) and prison officers (8.5%) who participated in the study.
Infection levels are highest in the north-west and eastern regions (almost 9%) and lowest in the north of Cameroon (2% or lower). According to the 2005 Demographic and Health Survey, prevalence was almost twice as high for adult women than for men (15–49 years) (6.8% compared with 4.1%).
Source: UNAIDS, 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, December 2006
Regional News
GYCA Members Lead Pre-Conference for UNFPA Meeting on Young People’s Health n Nigeria!
Esther Eshiet, GYCA’s West African Regional Focal Point, and Kingsley Essemonu, GYCA Task Force member recently helped organize a pre-conference for youth to take place before the UNFPA Conference “Investing In Young People’s Health And Development: Research That Improves Policies And Programmes,” in Abuja, Nigeria.
The pre-conference aimed to ensure meaningful youth participation at the conference through active capacity building and engagement and engaged participants between the ages of 11 and 28 from all over Nigeria and from other neighboring countries.
Following introductions, Kingsley Essemonu facilitated a session on participants’ expectations for the pre-conference, providing participants the opportunity to share their thoughts about the conference itself. Some common expectations and goals included the desire to learn more about HIV/AIDS, to acquire new skills and meet people, too build my capacity on SRH issues, and to know more about health issues and be able to debunk myths. Kingsley also facilitated a session on what a conference entails, which was followed by a session on developing communication skills.
The second day of the pre-conference included series of skill-building opportunities, as well as opportunities to learn more about topics including adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and networking.
After two days of pre-conference activities, the conference began, with 200 out of the 551 participants under age 25!. The overall purpose of the conference was to provide an international forum for exchanging research and programmatically-generated evidence on how to meet the health and developmental needs of young people in low-resource settings. It also offered an opportunity for researchers and practitioners—as consumers of research findings and implementers of youth programming—as well as youth themselves to learn from research, share lessons and valuable experiences, and provide recommendations for increased resources and commitment to youth-directed investments in health and development at the international, national and local levels.
Opening speakers’ messages were centred on the fact that young people are a heterogeneous group whose health and development is very crucial. For the first day of the conference, UNFPA youth attendees participated in four abstract sessions, all under the topic of ‘Youth Risk,’ which include entitled “Menstrual Health and Early Adolescence,” “Adolescent Reproductive Health, Programmes, and Policies,” and “Adolescent Sexual Behaviour, Pregnancy, and Child-Bearing.”
As well, a youth and national policy-makers dialogue provided an opportunity for representatives from academia, international NGOs, and youth delegations to engage with members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the World Bank, and the UNFPA. Issues discussed in the meeting ranged from education, youth engagement, the generational and communication gap which exist between policy makers and young people.
On the second day of the conference, attendees were able to attend the abstract session entitled “Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Young People in Vulnerable Situations,” with presentations ranging from adolescent marriage to community-based adolescent reproductive health programming to the impact of mass media on adolescent behaviour. Following these sessions was the UNFPA Country representative meeting, in which the Country Representative and the UNFPA’s Advisor on HIV prevention addressed the youth delegates, and youth delegates could voice concerns and make recommendations. The event of the closing plenary included remarks by Hon. Saudatu Sani, MDGs committee, House of Representatives, who recommended that outcomes of the conference be turned into action so as to ensure investment in young people.
GYCA at World AIDS Campaign West Africa Regional Campaigners Meeting
14th-15th November 2007
(Left to right) Azubike, Sydney, Samba
30 participants form civil society organisations across the West African Sub Region met at the Dutch Hotel in Accra Ghana from 14th – 15th November 2007.
The meeting formed part of World AIDS Campaign’s regional consultations with Civil Society across Sub Saharan Africa on universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. The various participants presented country programmes and efforts in support of the AIDS response. Participants also shared activities to be carried out as part of the World AIDS Day celebrations.
The discussions ranged from advocacy campaigns to challenges civil society faces in their campaigns as well as UNGASS support efforts.
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS was represented at the meeting by Azubike Nwokoye (GYCA Taskforce member). He made a presentation on GYCA’s activities in Nigeria as well as affiliations with other organisations across Africa. Also at the meeting was the GYCA NPF for The Gambia Samba Touray. Together with the Project Officer South Secretariat, GYCA was represented successfully.
The team had meetings with other CSOs on how to partner with GYCA carry out programmes across the sub region. The team successfully got some participants from Senegal, Sierra Leone and Liberia to sign up to be GYCA members. One of the two participants form Sierra Leone expressed interest in becoming the National Focal Point for Sierra Leone.
The outcomes of the various regional consultations will be fed into a sub regional Campaign Strategy for WAD first then UNGASS and other national and regional campaigns.
Senegal NFP organizes
Female Condom demonstration
Senegal NFP Eric Dombou and RJJS – Youth Regrouping for Social Justice, organised an international summer camp in early September for 210 young people from Africa and Europe titled ‘Young people facing up to the challenges of sustainable development.’ Participants had diverse backgrounds; their interests included HIV/AIDS; the environment and climate change; illegal immigration; and the impact of extractive industries in Africa. Workshops, discussions and plenary sessions allowed participants to share knowledge and perspectives, as well as to suggest positive follow-up actions.
Mr. Cisse, from the Tambacounda Youth Centre, presented a workshop on ‘HIV/AIDS - new awareness-raising strategies for young people,’ which was attended by approximately 80 participants.The discussion focused on the ways that HIV/AIDS increasingly affects women. Factors such as poverty, illegal prostitution, lack of education, sexual intercourse at an early age, polygamy and traditions, war, sexual violence, forced marriages and the female anatomy were identified among others. The group produced action steps to counter the feminisation of HIV/AIDS, including developing fundraising activities, educating girls, awareness-raising campaigns, lobbying for the resolution of conflicts and voluntary HIV testing. Additionally, three recommendations were proposed: offering free HIV testing, treatment and access to treatment; fighting against discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV; and promoting a synergy of actions in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Specific awareness-raising techniques were also suggested, including encouraging the use of condoms (male and female), encouraging young people to get tested, and integrating peer education. Finally, to reinforce the discussion, free HIV testing was offered and obtained by 88 people, all of whom tested negative and understand the importance of remaining HIV negative.
The workshops on the environment and climate change, the impact of extractive industries in Africa, and illegal immigration were carried out in a similar fashion. At the end of the camp, the group produced a final declaration which summarises the discussions held and the actions to be taken. Working groups were set up on the four themes involving volunteers from different associations and countries, each of whom are responsible for ensuring follow-up in the year to come.
Thanks to the careful planning and organisation by RJJS and local contacts including the governor of Tambacounda, the camp was a success. Contacts were made between young people from different regions, countries and associations, and participants were motivated to face the challenges of sustainable development in their future projects.
Ghana says AKWAABA (Welcome) to GYCA
When the GYCA South Secretariat (SS) was announced in Ghana, Sydney Hushie, Project Officer of the SS, initiated a publicity campaign to create acceptance and recognition for the secretariat, as well as to identify partners for effective implementation of programmes.
Daniel Agbenoto, GYCA member in Ghana, said, “I have been a member of GYCA for the past two years but I’ve never felt more committed to GYCA than now. The SS in Ghana will step up my involvement in HIV/AIDS programmes. I will personally commit an average of eight hours a week to GYCA.”
UNFPA and UNICEF were among the first organisations to be approached, and yielded some positive responses, excerpted below:
“We at UNFPA are glad to work with you in Ghana and the entire global south. We believe that GYCA and UNFPA have common objectives which have fuelled our relationship since GYCA was started. Welcome on board!” - National Programme Officer on HIV/AIDS, UNFPA.
“UNIFEF presently has its programmes on HIV/AIDS focused on in-school youth, specifically basic school. However, we acknowledge the role GYCA has played over the years in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. We welcome the southern secretariat to Ghana and we will partner in the fight in Ghana and beyond.” National Programme Officer on HIV/AIDS, UNICEF.
GYCA members in Ghana have been involved in dissemination of the GYCA newsletter, announcing the SS through local online networks, as well as at various youth meetings. Next in line is to meet with UNAIDS and the Ghana AIDS Commission , which is the government’s HIV/AIDS coordinating body, as well as other government agencies and national NGOs and CBOs.
Ghana has over the years chalked some successes in HIV/AIDS campaigning, in the last year reducing HIV prevalence from 3.1% to 2.7% . These successes have been achieved by the collective work of all stakeholders, especially youth who have been involved in peer education and advocacy. GYCA’s SS in Ghana is creating a more formidable and coordinated youth front in HIV/AIDS programmes.
Development of HIV/AIDS initiatives in Ghana is a collective effort. The youth in Ghana have expressed optimism and commitment to be involved. Development partners have also expressed commitment. All is set for a smooth take off.
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