From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
In addition to celebrating children across Africa as the hope and future of the continent, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria said it’s marking this year’s Day of the African Child with the revitalization of AHF’s Boys2Men programme.
In a statement made available to thesun.ng, the Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, said the renewed commitment aims to boost visibility, awareness, and action for adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in HIV, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programming across the continent.
AHF is marking the day under the theme “Be the Hero of Your Health.”
He observed that while global and regional efforts have made substantial strides in reducing HIV incidence, ABYM in Africa continue to be left behind, as they are notably underrepresented in HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Compared to young women, ABYM often start treatment late and have lower adherence, resulting in poorer health outcomes and higher transmission risk.
Aborishade explained that the AHF’s Boys2Men programme, which was launched in 2018, addresses the gaps by promoting positive masculinity, early testing and treatment initiation, and stigma-free care for ABYM.
In the statement, the AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Penninah Iutung noted: “For too long, adolescent boys and young men have been the invisible demographic in the fight against HIV.
“Harmful gender norms teach them that seeking help is a sign of weakness, and stigma keeps them silent even when their lives are at risk.
“Revitalizing our Boys2Men program is a bold step to change that narrative by empowering young men to take control of their health, access the care they need, and redefine what it means to be strong.”
In Nigeria, AHF Nigeria will host a football match between the AHF boys and the soccer team of the Waru Community, Abuja. The Waru community in Abuja is home to one of AHF Nigeria’s facility, as the community also boasts of a Community Advocacy Club, AHF Africa Bureau flagship grassroots advocacy initiative.
The football match will take place on Saturday, June 21st, and presents an opportunity to engage young boys on building positive masculinity and being resilient in the face of multiple environmental factors that young boys are faced with today.
The statement also quoted Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director (CPD) saying “The 2025 Day of the African Child commemoration is an intelligent response to the quiet but consistent yearnings of our boys who have long desired a structured interface to engage and positively deal with the peculiar challenges boys are faced with growing up in our terrain and I am happy we are able to revitalize the Boys2Men program for the benefit of adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), who will find the program’s offering exceptional to their growth.”