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Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (R) presenting a gift to a recipient during the launch of NAWOCA Local Government Chapters in Lagos Island Division.


Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (R) presenting a gift to a recipient during the launch of NAWOCA Local Government Chapters in Lagos Island Division.

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Oct 16, 2009 - Launch Of Local Government Chapters Of National Coalition Of Women On Aids At Lagos Island

In spite of the various initiatives and actions that government and organisations have taken to raise awareness of the people on what they need to do to stop the spread of the disease, it is sad that since 1986 HIV/AIDS has grown to become a serious public health issue, claiming millions of lives yearly.

Studies have shown that women account for the greater number of people falling victims of HIV/AIDS. Women are more at risk due to various factors such as our nature, poverty, lack of awareness, gender based violence amongst others. The clear implication of this fact is that issues relating to women 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 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 Lagos Island Local Government to launch the National Coalition of Women on AIDS (NAWOCA) in the Lagos Island 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 traditional institutions within the division. This is very essential to the success of this initiative because even though women are the primary target, we would need the support of our men and opinion leaders in our communities for effective mobilization and to achieve our set goals.

I will therefore like to solicit the support and encouragement of the Thirteen (13) Local Government Chairmen of this division to address issues that make our women and girls more prone to HIV/AIDS. 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 that we can set examples for the rest of the country with the successful implementation of this programme.

I hereby plead with you not to see this event as mere formality but TIME TO ACT NOW.

To maintain our leading position and to achieve our goals on implementation, we must be able to accomplish these 4 must do lists:

1. To draw up a plan of activities in accordance with the goals of this initiative.
2. To prepare evaluation and proper coordination schedule.
3. To submit quarterly progress report by each local government.
4. To liaise 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 and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos Island in Lagos State namely: Lagos Island, Lagos Island East, Lagos Mainland, Yaba, Surulere, Coker-Aguda, Itire-Ikate, Apapa, Apapa-Iganmu, Eti-Osa East, Eti-Osa West, Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru-Victoria Island.

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