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Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (L) presenting an award to Mrs Abosede Olodi of Ijede Local Council Deve-lopment Authority (LCDA) during the launch.


Participants at the launch of Local Government Chapters of the National Coalition of Women On AIDS (NACOWA).

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Jul 16, 2009 - Launch Of Local Government Chapters Of National Coalition Of Women On AIDS At Ikorodu LGA

Since 1986 when the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported, it has grown to become a serious public health issue given the millions of lives that it has continued to claim every year. This is in spite of the various initiatives and actions that governments and organisations have taken to raise the general level of awareness of the people on what they need to do to stop the spread of the disease.

Studies have shown that women account for the greater number of people falling victims of HIV/AIDS because women are more at risk as a result of a number of factors including biological composition, poverty, lack of awareness, gender based violence among others. The clear implication of this fact is that women issues must be given due considerations if we are to achieve success in the fight against AIDS epidemic.

It is in realisation of this fact that Her Excellency, (Dr.) Hajia Turai Musa Yar Adua, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria initiated the National Women Coalition on AIDS (NAWOCA) as an advocacy so as to publicly address issues that makes the female gender more at risk to HIV infection.

Today, to follow Dr. Hajia Turai Yar’Adua’s laudable objectives, we are gathered here in Ikorodu Local Government to launch National Coalition of Women on AIDS (NAWOCA) in the Ikorodu division of Lagos State with the following specific objectives:

i. to implement the women’s rights agenda for action on HIV/AIDS at the local government levels and
ii. to promote and protect the rights of women and girls living with and affected by HIV/AIDS

This coalition under the leadership of the wives of the local government chairmen is expected, in its advocacy efforts, to seek the support and collaboration of policy makers, political, religious, social, women leaders as well as the traditional institution in the local government. This is very essential to the success of this initiative because even though women are the primary target, we would need the support of the men and opinion leaders in our communities for effective mobilization and the achievement of our set goals.

I will therefore like to solicit the support and encouragement of the seven (7) Local Government Chairmen of this division for this initiative which seeks to address issues that makes women and girls more prone to HIV/AIDS. As you are the closest level of government to the grassroots, I am counting very much on your support to ensure that Lagos State maintains a leading position and sets an example for the rest of the nation in the successful implementation of this programme.

I beg of you all not to see this event as mere formality but time to act. We need to:

1. Draw up a plan of activities in accordance with the goals of this initiative.
2. Prepare evaluation and proper coordination schedule
3. Submit a quarterly progress report by each local government.
4. Liaising with Lagos State AIDS Control Agency at the Local Government level and state chapter of NAWOCA.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, there is no time to lose if we are to achieve a significant impact against HIV epidemic which is mortgaging the future of hundreds of thousands of young women and girls and by extension future generations.

It is on this note that I formally launch the National Women Coalition on AIDS in all the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Ikorodu division in Lagos State comprising Igbogbo Baiyeku, Ikorodu, Ikorodu North, Ikorodu West, Ijede and Imota.

I congratulate all the wives of our Chairmen and their team. Best of luck in eradicating this epidemic called HIV/AIDS from our society.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Eko o ni baje o.

Her Excellency
Mrs. Abimbola Fashola
First Lady of Lagos State