ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES STRONGER HIV/AIDS, GBV/IPV RESPONSE AS GLOBAL FUND GC8 OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.
By Uzo Ugwunze
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the HIV/AIDS Response ,Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) with other social determinants of health following its active participation at the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) National Consultative Workshop on HIV/AIDS, GBV and IPV Programming held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Representing Anambra State at the high-level national consultation were the Executive Director/Project Manager of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke; the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Tobe Nweke, SAN; the Director of Public Petitions; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Chinwe Achugbu.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, human rights actors, and technical experts to develop strategic priorities for integrating HIV/AIDS, GBV, IPV, human rights, and health interventions into Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 Funding Request.
Speaking after the workshop, Dr. Nkem Okeke noted that Anambra State made strong contributions to discussions on survivor-centred care, Integrated HIV Community Response strategies , accountability mechanisms, referral pathways, social protection, and sustainable financing for HIV /AIDS and GBV/IPV interventions.
“Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence remain significant drivers of HIV vulnerability and poor health outcomes. Addressing these challenges is therefore critical to achieving the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
"As a State, we advocated for stronger integration of HIV services, psychosocial support, legal protection, community-based prevention, and economic empowerment initiatives for vulnerable populations,” Dr Okeke stated.
He emphasized that the anticipated GC8 investments will complement the implementation of the ANSACA State Strategic Transformation and Sustainability Plan (SSTSP) 2026–2028, which seeks to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths in Anambra State while strengthening health systems and improving the wellbeing and productivity of citizens.
Dr. Okeke expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for public health, social protection, human capital development, women’s empowerment, and the HIV response in the State.
Anambra State remains poised to leverage the opportunities presented under Global Fund Cycle 8 to deepen its HIV response, strengthen GBV and IPV prevention and response mechanisms, improve healthcare access, and advance the vision of a healthier and more prosperous Anambra State.
