By Patricia Anebi, Dr David Olusegun Oyedeji and Faruk Musa

The SFH-KP-CARE 2 project improved the knowledge and skills of the counselors and Case Managers in all project states on preventing and responding to violence against key populations using the standard USAID curriculum on first-line response (LIVES). As a follow on to the training, the Deputy Chief of Party of the project, Dr David Olusegun Oyedeji accompanied by the Acting State Team Lead Patricia Ogenyo Anebi, and the Laboratory and Logistics Specialist, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar paid an advocacy visit to the AIG of Nigeria Police Zone 10, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Daura in his office in Sokoto on October 23, 2023. The DCoP and team were warmly received by the AIG, and the DCoP gave a synopsis of the project to the AIG.

In his briefing, he informed the AIG that the project is a 5-year PEPFAR-funded project through USAID aimed at achieving HIV epidemic control in the state by providing HIV prevention, treatment, and care services to key populations in the state. He highlighted that due to the stigma and discrimination the population face, alongside the criminalisation of their behaviours, they tend to shy away from accessing their vital health care needs, especially HIV prevention and testing services, and for these reasons, the incidence of the infection is still on the rise amongst them that they are referred to as the “drivers” of the HIV epidemic. He explained that if these vital HIV services are not taken closer to the key population members, the state, and the nation stand the risk of losing its current gains in HIV management and epidemic control in the larger population.

Dr Oyedeji informed the AIG of the comprehensive spectrum of services the project provides to the key population members and the model of care employed by the project which he explained is client-centered differential service delivery using the one-stop shop strategy and incorporating decentralised drug delivery model to reach the KPs where they are with live-saving drugs and services.