BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
THE Civil Society for HIV/AIDs in Nigeria (CISHAN) Delta State Chapter has sought the partnership of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), a non-profit group to tackle the scourge of HIV/AIDs in the state.
The proposed synergy between the two bodies was mooted during a courtesy call by the leadership of CISHAN to the Delta State ECEWS Program Manager, Dr. Henry Udenenwu in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
In their remarks, CISHAN, led by Comrade Eris Ibi, thanked the Program manager for making time to meet with them, while appealing for support and partnership in critical areas to sustain the battle against the scourge. She listed among their areas of need, capacity building in sourcing funds from international donor agencies, collaboration and support in building the capacity of active member organisations and inclusion of their members in their planned programs and activities.
Ibi also reeled out some of their activities such as the sensitization of over 2,000 persons on HIV/AIDs and the need for them to know their status, capacity building for Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and other members on HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing and strategies in targeting vulnerable groups. In his remarks, Dr Udenenwu thanked the leadership of CISHAN for finding them worthy of seeking collaboration, stating that such recognition means that ECEWS is doing something right.
He assured CISHAN of synergizing with them in the future, specifically in the aspect of capacity building of their members to ensure that they deliver on their mandate across the state. He also advised CISHAN to furnish them with a comprehensive plan and budget to know other areas where ECEWS can play a pivotal role.
Earlier, CISHAN visited the Delta State Action Committee on AIDS (DELSACA) office, to inform them of their activities and introduce the leadership of the body to the committee. They also appealed for support for the CBOs to effectively carry out their Community-Based Activities (CBAs).
The Executive Secretary of the agency who was represented by the Director of Administration, Mr Solomon Aduraosi, promised to sustain the synergy between the agency and CISHAN while charging CISHAN to keep them abreast of their activities and make it more visible. He also encouraged them to be inventive in soliciting funding from donors. The Director of Policy and Partnership Coordination, Mrs Grace Sifo also joined in thanking CISHAN for their works.
