Noel Kaufa’s Post

As we move forward differently! #TogetherForImpact. With the National Youth Council of Malawi resolutely revamping and repositioning itself to champion meaningful youth engagement and development programming in Malawi, you too can be a part of our story. Collaborate or partner with us. #YouthPolicy #MW2063 #sdgs #agenda2063 #agenda2030

🙋APCOM Executive Director met with Ambassador John N. Nkengasong at the AIDS 2024, and thanked the Ambassador for attending the recent PEPFAR Regional Operational Plan (ROP) held in Manila, the Philippines, and that now more than ever we need PEPFAR to fund directly the key population-led organisations and interventions, ensure we scale up HIV prevention intervention especially for pre-exposure prophylaxis, and ensure sustainability of the community to continue their advocacy for the social enablers for the 10-10-10 targets. . 📲See announcement of New PEPFAR Action Plan to Address HIV-Service Equity Gaps for Key Populations: https://buff.ly/4d5CBql . 📑See Ambassador's bio: https://buff.ly/46sSAfF . The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) I USAID - US Agency for International Development I USAID Asia I USAID Pacific Islands I UNAIDS I UNAIDS Asia Pacific I The Global Fund . #APCOM #hivprevention

Exciting news regarding our SRHR Advocacy & HIV Workshop. 48 participants have registered and we have more who are willing to register for this gargantuan workshop. Our organizing team decided to extend registration deadline to 30th September 2024. The main reason is to give other participants a chance to be onboard and sharpen their SRHR Advocacy skills as well. Many people especially who are outside Lesotho requested that we facilitate the workshop virtually as well so that they gain knowledge however our team is working hard to see if we can accommodate them or we will host specific virtual workshop for them. Again, many people who registered showed their worry of 5 days because they are still working but we declare now that we will try to compress our workshop into 3 days maximum so that we cater for those who are working and for those who run other initiatives. Our organizing team decided to host this workshop in the following days: FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY will be a final day and Certification. At the moment we are communicating with our sponsors to fund Accommodation for all our participants. Once accommodation issue is sorted, we will announce exact dates of workshop. #SRHRAdvocacy #HIV #MosepeleFoundation #Lesotho

Greater engagement of community in the lead capacity provides inputs to identify key gaps and build strategic interventions #communityledmonitoring engaging communities to come forward and highlight their needs, gaps in service delivery and deriving solutions along with service providers to contribute towards national goals

2023 what a year! Global Fund Head of Political, CSOs & Advocacy Department, Rwanda NGO Forum Executive Secretary, Rwanda CCM Representative and Myself inclusive visited the First lady's Imbuto Foundation team & discussed on Resource Mobilization for Health mainly responding on issues affecting AGYW: Reducing new HIV infections, Prevention Of Teen Pregnancies etc. Despite great progress made against HIV globally, Regional & National levels, adolescent girls & young women continue to be disproportionately at risk of new HIV infections. There is need for partners to build & strengthen systems for health that support a girl through out her life. Systems for health do not stop at a health facility level but run deep into communities &can reach those who do not always go to HC or hospitals.

Reflecting on a transformative year at Africa REACH! 🌟 One of our key highlights from last year was the launch of the Africa REACH strategy, a monumental step towards our mission to end AIDS in children and young people across Africa. As we step into the new year, we're drawing inspiration from this milestone and the insights gained at the #ICASA2023 conference. The recent ICASA conference, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, resonated deeply with our core values and mission. Emphasising community-led responses and paediatric HIV advocacy, ICASA highlighted the power of grassroots initiatives under the theme "Let Communities Lead." This echoes our commitment to involve local voices in shaping impactful strategies to combat HIV/AIDS. ⌛ Moreover, the conference reinforced the urgency of the Africa REACH strategy and the need for Domestic Resource Mobilization. Discussions on sustainable healthcare solutions and locally manufactured vaccines align with our goal of self-reliant healthcare systems to combat AIDS in our communities. As we implement the Africa REACH strategy and the insights gleaned from 2023, we are committed to turning these learnings into impactful action. Join us in making 2024 a year of progress and change towards healthier, more inclusive communities! https://lnkd.in/eaBcRkbX #AfricaREACH #EndAIDS2025 #AIDSFreeGeneration

Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we're proud to highlight our strong commitment to responding to humanitarian need and also crisis situations. We provided critical emergency assistance to children with disabilities and their caregivers in Chipinge following Cyclone Idai. Despite the challenges posed by the current El Niño-induced drought, we remain dedicated to ensuring access to essential services for children with disabilities and early childhood development (ECD) children.Our ECD programme and Community Based Rehabilitation efforts continue to play a vital role in family health improvement. In the face of the drought, which threatens family food security and increases vulnerability, we recognize the impact on HIV prevention and response. The effects are far-reaching: Food Insecurity: Drought-induced food shortages disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV. Increased Risk Behaviors: Economic stress can drive risky behaviors, heightening the risk of HIV transmission, particularly among young adolescents. Our efforts within the TASQC program focus on maintaining service availability during this drought crisis, particularly in the Masvingo province. By addressing the intersection of humanitarian needs, food security, and HIV prevention, we are working tirelessly to support those most in need. We are thankful to all our partners and donors for their continued support. Join us on Hevoi FM at 11 am as we speak more on Humanitarian and Development work in Zimbabwe. #WorldHumanitarianDay #HumanitarianResponse #HIVPrevention #DroughtResponse #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment Ministry of Health and Child Care Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development -OPHID USAID Zimbabwe The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Liliane Fonds Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV Kapnek Trust USA Oak Foundation Herz HD Stiftung

RIGHTS GROUP ENDORSES HIV/AIDS ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL, SEEKS SPEEDY PASSAGE BY AKWA IBOM ASSEMBLY Apparently, the Bill seeks to domesticate (or adopt) the HIV and AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014 enacted by the National Assembly upon the assent on the 27th day of November, 2014 of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Bill is in consonant with the provision of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantees to every Nigerian the right to freedom from discrimination. CHRAN’S INPUTS: 1) The Center observes that the Bill does not state the purpose and objectives of the Law it proposes. The Center, therefore, urges that a new Part I should be inserted in the Bill to state the purpose and objectives of the proposed Law. 2) The Center observes that the word “status” is omitted in line 2, Section 4 at page 3 of the Bill. The Center, therefore, urges that the word “status” should be inserted after the words “HIV/AIDS” and before the full stop punctuation mark in line 2, Section 4 at page 3 of the Bill. 3) The Center appreciates the resolve of the 8th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to enact the Akwa Ibom State Stigmatization and Discrimination of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (Prohibition) Law considering that a similar Bill, which was passed by a previous House of Assembly, was denied assent by a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State. 4) The Center notes with dismay that it has taken the Akwa Ibom State Government over ten (10) years to domesticate the HIV and AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014. 5) The Center decries the waste of resources and time that has resulted from the failure of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State to assent to a similar Bill which was passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and transmitted to the former Governor for assent. A further effect is that Akwa Ibom State may have been denied access to available international and multilateral grants, aids and facilitations. 6) The Center urges the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to wake up to its powers, responsibilities and duties under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) by invoking the provision of Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and recalling and passing Bills duly passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and transmitted to the State Governor for assent but which the State Governor withholds assent beyond thirty (30) days, as provided in Section 100(4) of the Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Conclusion: The Center calls on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, to expedite assent to the Bill once it is passed by the House of Assembly and presented to him for assent. https://lnkd.in/d778XkGX

Kenyan Zipporah Achieng had a difficult childhood understanding her HIV status. "They called me 'walking dead,'" she says. Now she is a young peer educator reaching out to her age group in her community. She is a firm believer that providing such help will make all the difference. 🌏  "If you don't involve the community, you are bound to fail because they shall not have owned it," says Charles Ogutu, a community leader in Kibera, one of Kenya's largest informal settlements. In 2018, there were no youth-friendly health projects like this, five years later there are 30. Our #antiretrovirals are supplied to more than 17 countries & various Ministries of #Health worldwide,🌏 #African #Guinea, #Kenya., etc. & international aid agencies. Enabling millions across the developing world access to life-saving therapy.🎗️🆘 Requirements for country engagement, including a detailed step-by-step guidance for governments in joining and implementing the Global Partnership are available for countries on #UNAIDS 🎗️ website, as well as other documents from the Global Partnership, such as the guidance document "Evidence for eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination" . . Do you live in a country with high rates of #HIV*? * Botswana, Cameroon, Central #African Republic, #Congo, Cote d Ivoire, Equatorial #Guinea, #Eswatini, #Gabon, #Guinea-Bissau, #Kenya, #Lesotho, #Malawi, Mozambique, #Namibia, #Nigeria, #Rwanda, South Africa, South #Sudan, #Togo, #Uganda, United Republic of #Tanzania, #Zambia, Zimbabwe..........etc. Countries that have joined the GP: Angola, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic  Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,  Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda,  Ukraine. Out of these members, the following are Global Fund breaking down barriers countries: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central  African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique, Nepal, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Ukraine.

Hear from speakers from the just concluded #UPROOT 2023 - Youth Scorecard Results Webinar! Kaushal Ranasinghe The #UPROOT Scorecard project is not just about collecting data but a testament to the power of partnership among dedicated young leaders worldwide. The #UPROOT program has laid the foundation for change in communities across the globe through capacity building and data-backed#UPROOT advocacy. In Krygztan, youth organizations have formalised their commitment to meaningful youth engagement through an MoU. This commitment has paved the way for strengthened advocacy and national mechanism training. In Nigeria, the #UPROOT Scorecard project has sparked a strong advocacy media campaign and strengthened some national youth organizations. These efforts have fostered a robust advocacy system, ensuring that young advocates can drive reforms and promote inclusivity in the fight against HIV. Isolated youth communities are beginning to engage with implementation partners to change stigmatizing laws in the country. Their newfound sense of belonging speaks volumes about the transformative power of collective action. In India, interaction with the affected key population has resulted in the recommendation to strengthen HIV Services for the Young key population at both local and national levels. In Panama, collaborations extend into the indigenous communities. The local implementation team uncovered the indigenous community's challenges in accessing SRHR and services. We shed light on these issues through the #UPROOT Scorecard project and work tirelessly to support these communities. #UPROOT is not just about collecting data but a testament to the power of partnership among dedicated young leaders worldwide. The #UPROOT program has laid the foundation for change in communities across the globe through capacity building and data-backed