FHI 360 Global Fund NAHI project in collaboration with the National Technical Working Group on Harm Reduction in Nigeria, organized a 2-day advocacy meeting with stakeholders implementing Harm Reduction intervention in Nigeria in Akwanga, Nassarawa state between the 28th and 31st of August 2022. The meeting, co-chaired by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and National Agency for Control of AIDs (NACA), works to build stakeholders’ capacity in providing enabling environments for harm reduction.
Representatives of the Honorable Minister for Health, Permanent Secretaries and State Agencies for Control of AIDs (SACA) in the four supported states – namely Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross river were in attendance. Other attendees included DHRAN, CSOs, Academia, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, NDLEA, Nigeria Police, NHRC, as well as the four PEPFAR implementing partners – CIHP, CPHI, Heartland Alliance and IHVN. The Harm Reduction Gap-Filling intervention is being implemented by FHI 360’s Global Fund NAHI project in the 4 PEPFAR supported states.
In a similar activity to ensure the effective participation of stakeholders in the Harm reduction program, FHI 360 collaborated with FMoH and NACA to organize an entry meeting for Needle and Syringe program rollout in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. In attendance were the Permanent secretaries, law enforcement agencies (Nigerian Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Security), Traditional council members, youth leaders, Directors of State agencies for control of AIDS & Hepatitis, civil society organizations, religious leaders, representatives of drug user networks, WHO, UN agencies and Implementing partners. At the end of the meetings, the state implementation team for Harm Reduction was inaugurated by the FMoH and a secretariat was formed.
