From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
A group, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI), has announced the launch of a Youth-led HIV Support Page, aimed at empowering young Nigerians in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The support page, ‘Youth Leading HIV Awareness Campaign (YOLHAC)’ Webpage, aims to highlight the need for HIV education, combat stigma, and increase uptake in testing and treatment services.
A statement jointly signed by BCAI’s Communication Officer, Juliet Nwobodo, and its Project Managers, Favour Ogbuagu and Makkiyyah Sulaiman, insisted that young Nigerians suffered critical gaps in HIV support, given the disproportionate share of new infections of about 40% among those aged 15–24.
The statement regretted that, based on the 2023–24 NDHS Report, the impediment of stigma remained a major barrier to the fight against the spread of the disease, adding that a significant proportion of young Nigerians living with HIV were avoiding health facilities due to discrimination and stigma.
The statement also highlighted the fact that only 30% of young women and 22% of young men aged 15–24 possessed accurate prevention information, adding that the webpage would provide comprehensive HIV peer-driven knowledge for effective prevention and support.
“The YOLHAC webpage directly addresses these challenges by providing an inclusive and accessible digital hub that centres on youth voices and experiences.
“The key features include an AI-powered chatbot that delivers real-time, confidential, and youth-friendly information on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR); a curated directory of youth-friendly HIV service providers that connects users to free or low-cost HIV services across Nigeria; and a youth-generated blog that demystifies HIV through personal stories, myth-busting, and lived experiences, among others,” the statement stated.