The world’s women and girls are affected by HIV and AIDS virus women accounts for 60 percents of HIV infections in 2008 in sub Sahara Africa. The number of women living with HIV and AIDS nearly doubled between 2000 and 2008 and the world health organization concluded that AIDS is leading cause of death among women between the age of 15 to 44 in 2009.
Because of these biological implication, women and girls are more affected than men sexually. Men and boys face unique risks primarily because some feel pressured to have multiple sexual partners which increases their vulnerability to infections. The continued spread of HIV and AIDS continue to play out because inequality between men and women in the family cycle. Women have no ability to control their sexual lives and protect themselves form harm. Violence against women and girls makes many of them vulnerable to HIV. If women fear of being abused by their partners continues, they are less likely to get tested for the virus. That fear can also hinder women who are HIV positive from seeking counseling or disclose to their partners that they are affected. Investigation suggested that women with poor status background such as poor education, poor income, have no voice at home and their communities are likely to be affected by the virus. It is imperative that women’s unique vulnerabilities to HIV are intergrated into prevention, support and treatment programs.
OUTLOOK ROLE
Today, inequality between women and men has fuelled the transmission of HIV and AIDS among women in our communities. OHCI has continue to push AIDS agenda to sustainable development Agenda forward. To implement policies that will response moves from forces to crisis management strategy on how HIV programs and policy can better serve the needs of women and girls. We want to influence the national government to address the role of gender norms play in the prevention, support and treatment of HIV.
MALARIA AMONG WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Malaria is one of Africa’s deadliest diseases killing an average one child every 60 seconds. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused parasitic protozoan (a group of single celled micro organisms). Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting and headache. In severe cases, it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma or death. Symptoms usually begins ten to fifteen days after being bitten. if not properly treated, people may have recurrence of the disease months later. OHCI sensitized the communities on the prevention and treatment of the infectious disease caused by the parasite.
Malaria has a devastating, socio-economic impact in Nigeria and all efforts must be intensified by the government and corporate organization to eradicate the disease. Outlook embark on market place, school to spread awareness about cause of malaria and preventive measures to residents living in our communities, the most vulnerable groups are pregnant women, children, visitors from non epidemic areas, those with HIV/AIDS . Malaria has remain a major public health problem in Nigeria. The disease has impacted negatively on the economy with about 132 billion lost to the disease as cost of treatment.
We are calling on international donor agency to support our project on malaria initiative so that people will have access to insecticide treated nets, anti-malaria drugs and other interventions. Sleeping under low cost, insecticide treated bed nets is the most effective malaria intervention. World health organization estimates that nearly 70 percent of malaria cases averted in the past decades and it was attributed to the use of bed nets. Communities health workers will be assisted to make provision for drugs. The battle against malaria is also a battle of complacency.
Outlook humanitarian care initiative will like to partner with other governments, donors, multilateral organization and the broader public health community and have come closer than ever to banish the scourge of malaria from the planet.