Kadiri Audu Community Vice Chair – IRMA Coordinator –IRMA Nigeria Tel Rectal Microbicides Advocacy in Africa

In this presentation: How it all started – RM Advocacy in Africa (emphasis on Nigeria efforts) Strategies and activities Achievements/Challenges Future/Next steps

IRMA LAGOS -2008

IRMA Nigeria Lagos Abuja – FCT Ibadan – Oyo state Calabar – Cross Rivers

Strategies: Involving community stakeholders: IRMA Nigeria advocacy efforts are geared towards mobilising communities of stakeholders to make demands on their government for investment in Microbicide and Rectal Microbicides research and development.

Community Stakeholder Engagement Communities mobilised: CBOs LGBT organizations Community heads Youth leaders Market women Artisans and craftmen Health workers

Community Stakeholder Engagement Cont. Population reached; Sex workers Youths MSMs Artisans Health workers Market women General population Religious leaders Politicians

Tools for community mobilization Campaigns Sensitisation programs Trainings Talks Music events/Concerts Drama

Achievements Inclusion of NPT issues in National documents of HIV policy, National strategic framework and national HIV research policy. Discussion of NPTs(Microbicides and Rectal Microbicides) in public discourse – national conferences, Ethics committees, HIV prevention meetings, seminars, newspapers. Increasing number of NGOs in Nigeria including information on Microbicides and Rectal Microbicides in their HIV prevention messages. Over 200 members mobilized to joined the IRMA list serve More active actors are emerging in the field – NHVMAS, S4M, Safehaven, Good to Neighbours, NYNETHA, ICARH, MAN, TIER

Challenges Funding Illiteracy Religious and cultural beliefs Policy environment

Next Steps Seek for funds Engage more organizations in Rectal Microbicides advocacy Mobilize more people to join the IRMA list serve Produce Rectal Microbicides fact sheet in local languages Establish IRMA in more states in Nigeria

Thank you!

Questions? Comments?