Gender-responsive health advocacy takes center stage at workshop in A’ibom
By Theresa Donatus
Lawyers Alert, in partnership with the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR), has launched a two-day workshop in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to strengthen advocacy efforts focused on gender-responsive healthcare for HIV, TB, and malaria.
Workshop which took place from February 4th to 5th, 2025 on the Theme: “Law, Rights And Community Empowerment for social change in TB, HIV and Malaria Response” was supported by the Gender Equality Fund (GEF), aimed at equipping civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders with essential tools for eliminating gender-related barriers to healthcare access.
The event also aimed to create actionable recommendations for improving healthcare delivery to marginalized groups, ensuring their needs are met.
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Speaking during the opening ceremony in Uyo, the State capital, Hon. Moses Essien, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State House Committee on Health, deliver a keynote address highlighting the urgency of gender-sensitive healthcare policies.
Hon. Essien emphasized the disproportionate burden of HIV, TB, and malaria on women, girls, and marginalized communities, stressing the need for policies that ensure these groups are not excluded from necessary care and treatment.
“As we tackle the challenges posed by HIV, TB, and malaria, we must ensure that gender-specific issues are central to our approach. This workshop is vital in creating a more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable health system, where no one is left behind.” Hon. Essien said
Dr. Emabong Akpan, Programme Manager of the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ASACA), addressed the evolving global health funding landscape, urging local stakeholders to take ownership of the response to these diseases. Reflecting on the recent withdrawal of U.S. aid for HIV programs, Dr. Akpan called for a renewed focus on local advocacy to ensure sustainable funding and implementation of gender-responsive interventions.
“We have seen the impact of the changing global funding landscape, now more than ever, we must strengthen our local response through strategic advocacy and policy reforms that reflect our unique challenges and priorities.” Dr Akpan added
Olayemi Agoro, Director of Administration and Finance at Lawyers Alert, spoke to the unpredictability of global health funding, emphasizing that Nigerian stakeholders must be prepared to face potential shifts in funding sources.
Agoro maintained that advocacy is essential to safeguard the continuity of HIV, TB, and malaria programs, especially as global funding becomes less predictable.
“If one decision can change the course of global health funding, we must be ready to advocate and ensure that our health responses are self-sustaining and gender-sensitive,” Agoro stated.
On her part, Peace Okeshola, Legal Advisor at Lawyers Alert, also took the stage to emphasize the need for targeted advocacy in addressing gender-specific healthcare barriers.
She discussed how women and girls often face challenges in accessing treatment for diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria due to systemic inequalities in healthcare systems.
“Gender-specific barriers to healthcare access must be addressed through sustained advocacy, by working together, we can push for policy changes that create an inclusive healthcare system where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal access to treatment and care.” Okeshola said
Throughout the two days, participants engaged in expert-led discussions, strategy sessions, and hands-on activities designed to enhance their ability to advocate for gender-responsive health policies at local, state, and national levels.
stakeholders were urged to maintain momentum in their advocacy efforts, with a focus on collaboration and continued dialogue to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable health system in Nigeria.
