Grass root Voters Education By Action For Community Development

As part of efforts to ensure that grass root community members are sensitized and enlightened for the forth coming elections, Members of Action For Community Development,organized a special Community Voters Education in Evbuotubu Community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State of Nigeria. The purpose of the outreach is to enlighten community members about the forth coming elections, the voting process and how to vote right according to guidelines provided by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). Providing enlightenment about the accreditation process and the various fingers for accreditation and voting.
Members also distributed pamphlets for voter education and pasted posters with all the names and logo of all the political parties.In order for voters to know the political party they want to vote for.
This is part of our commitment to step down trainings on voters education which we attended in the eight days .The first was organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on the 22nd of March 2011 while the most recent was the one organized by the African Leadership Forum with support from UNDP on the 28th of March 2011.
 THANKS TO THE NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY  For providing the posters and pamphlets that we distributed.

       Peer Educators during  peer sessions in Evbuotubu Community Benin City Edo State of Nigeria

Action for Community Development

7, First Powerline, Opposite

Evbuotubu Market

Evbuotubu, Benin City.

08033479893/08182243782

NOVEMBER, 2010 MONTHLY REPORT

FROM: AMANDA AJUFOH AND JUDE LAWANI -

ACTION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

TO: JACKLYN AMIEGBE-OBOH (SFH)

CC: CHRIS MEKA

SUBJECT: AUGUST MONTHLY REPORT

DATE: 27^TH NOVEMBER, 2010.

INTRODUCTION: IRHIN exit phase was extended to cover the Month of October. Below are the activities that took place this month in Evbuotubu Community.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Monday and Friday tonic
2. Peer Sessions
3. IPC sessions
4. Stakeholders meeting
5. Achievement
6. Human interest story

MONDAY & FRIDAY TONIC

The fact that our IPCs were able to go back to the Clinic for our Clinic event brought joy to the women and mothers who were happy to see them and also ready to listen to the IRHIN message. There was the usual questions and answers segment. On the whole, a total of 212 women were reached at the clinic this month.

PEER SESSIONS

Our six Peer Educators were able to meet with their peers this month. In continuing to ensure behavioural change. The impact made so far by IRHIN is measurable against the background of the myth and misconception that the people had prior to this time. A total 239 people attended peer session this Month.

NAME OF PE	NO. OF SESSION/DATE	TOTAL NO. OF PEERS REACHED	TOPICS DISCUSSED	REFERRALS WITH PEs	REFERRALS AT THE CLINIC
Michael Obasogie	Two (2) 20th & 25th	39 (m)28(f)11	Cards 12-16	-	-
Augustine Ezomon	Two (2) 20th & 25th	39 (m)30(f)9	Cards 1-6	-	-
Samson Ovedhe	Two (2) 21st & 26th	52 (m)-(f)52	Cards 1-6	-	-
Mary Okocha	Two (2) 22nd & 25th	38. (m)30 (f)8	Cards 13-18	-	-
Naomi Amaefule	Two (2) 22nd & 26th	37 (m)8 (f)29	Cards 11-17	-	-
Vandalene Osaghae	Two (2) 21st & 26ths	34 (m)13 (f)21	Cards 14-19	-	-

IPC SESSIONS

In this month of October, the IPCs were able to reach 2,541people. They were able to cover the area allocated in their work plan and also exceeded their target.

NAME OF IPC	SEX	NO. OF SESSION	TOTAL REACHED	TOTAL REFERRED
Akpomedaye Paul & Mrs. F. Faith	M=367 F=938	12	1,305	12
Aiyeki Endurance & Mrs. E.Olotu	M=200 F=1,036	12	1,236	10

NAME OF IPC	AREA COVERED	MALE	FEMALE	TOTAL	CHART	DATE	REFERRALS AT CLINIC	REFERRALS WITH IPCS
Aiyeki Endurance & Mrs. E. Olotu	Osazuwa St	8	58	66	All	11/10/10	-	-
	Obarisiagbon St	38	88	126	All	12/10/10	-	-
	Eki / Market St	6	96	102	All	13/10/10	-	-
	Market Square	12	122	134	All	14/10/10	5	-
	Market Square	8	100	108	All	15/10/10	-	-
	Evbuotubu Rd	8	70	78	All	18/10/10	1	6
	Odion St	22	82	104	All	19/10/10	-	-
	Eki St	36	114	150	All	20/10/10	-	-
	Eki St	30	96	126	All	21/10/10	-	2
	Evbuotubu Rd	18	86	104	All	22/10/10	1	2
	Evbuotubu Rd/PHC	8	68	76	All	25/10/10	-	-
	Asoro Bustop	6	56	62	All	26/10/10	-	-
	TOTAL	200	1,036	1,236			7	10

NAME OF IPC	AREA COVERE D	MALE	FEMA LE	TOTAL	DATE		REFF ERALS AT CLINIC	REFFALS WITH IPC				REFERRALS WITH IPCS
Akpomedaye Paul & Mrs. F. Friday	Ehikioya St	30	70	100	All	11/10/10						-
	Obarisiagbon St	19	44	63	All	12/10/10						-
	Market Square	-	110	110	All	13/10/10						-
	1st Powerline	50	56	106	All	14/10/10						-
	Imuetiyan St	14	76	90	All	15/10/10						-
	Eki St	10	90	100	All	18/10/10						6
	Odion St	20	90	110	All	19/10/10						-
	Iyeye/Ifulayi St	30	96	126	All	20/10/10						2
	Ogiemudia St	30	110	140	All	21/10/10						-
	Oni St	40	90	130	All	22/10/10						2
	Omorodion St	34	76	110	All	25/10/10						2
	Asoro Bustop	90	30	120	All	26/10/10						-
	TOTAL	367	938	1,305								12

STAKEHOLDERS MEETING

Even as IRHIN is winding up, the Programme Officers have continued to meet with Evbuotubu community stakeholders. Letters have been sent out seeking their supports. Top on our priority is sustainability of the project and CBO formation

ACHIEVEMENTS

The people of Evbuotubu have gained alot due to IRHIN this is evident in the following areas

1. Knowledge impact: one out of three people in Evbuotubu have heard the IRHIN message, know about FP product and services. This is a big achievement compared to the myth and misconception the people had before the onset of the project. Husbands are more supportive of their wives and some other times initiate FP for their family.
2. Number of people referred: There has been tremendous increase in the number of people referred. Since this project began, a total number of 558 were referred throughout this project compared to what was obtainable prior to this project.
3. Those that accessed FP method and services: Before IRHIN field work began in December only two people was referred to the PHC for FP services but as at this month of October a total number of 237 people accessed services throughout the project.

Sales of product for the month

1. Cycle bead

2. 26 rolls of Noristerat

3.3 Pregnor.

Total number of client who accessed services during IRHIN

Method	No. of Clients
Noristerat	159
Depo Provera	10
Duofem	-
IUCD	53
Implant (Jadelle)	17
TOTAL	237

Total number of client who accessed services in the month of October

method	No of clients
noristerat	9
Depo provera	2
duofem	_
implant
iucd
total	11

CHALLENGES

Just like many venture in life our ipcs and pes were able to master their environment and presently have over come their challenges.

RECOMMENDATION FOR NEXT MONTH

1.Cbo formation

2. end of cycle

HUMAN INTEREST STORY

Mrs. Osatohanmwen of No. 4 Ehiwe Street in Evbuotubu Community met our ipc mr edurance aiyeki on the 18^th of this month said that she was into self medication of the daily pills. I counseled her on the need to have her examined by an FP specialist before she can adopt any of the FP method available. Feeling uneasy because of the mistake she had made, I referred her to see the matron at the health centre for critical examination and further counseling. Today she is happy knowing that everything is under control. She equally thanked SFH/ACD for this timely intervention. She is now in charge of herself , she now knows her true fp statues and confident that she is on the right course

Mr endurance aiyeki

Peer Educator Holding Peer Session

(as part of our Improving Reproductive Health in Nigeria(IRHIN Project in Partnership With Society For Family Health(SFH)

FIELD REPORTS ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF PERI URBAN AND RURAL YOUTHS AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HIV/AIDS PREVENTION,TREATMENT, CARE AND SUPPORT.

FIELD REPORTS ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF PERI URBAN AND RURAL YOUTHS

AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HIV/AIDS PREVENTION,TREATMENT, CARE AND SUPPORT.

Mr Sam Ajufoh

Executive Director

Action For Community Development

Phone:08033479893

email:actionforcd@yahoo.com

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to share our findings from research and implementation of the programme Improving Reproductive Health in Nigeria.IRHIN project in partnership with the Society For Family Health (SFH) and USAID.

Interestingly over 70 percent of the people we reached out to were youths of reproductive age and our findings would no doubt shed more light and provide useful information that would help to redirect policy and also improve the development of of rural and peri urban youth focused instruction, education and communication (i.e.c) materials.

It will also expose the fears, myths, and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health of peri urban and rural youths as we see again the need to ensure that rural and peri urban youths are properly educated about sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS.

Myths and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health by rural and peri urban youths,low level of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health , HIV/AIDS,Unwillingness on the side of the youths to discuss reproductive health and sex. Wrong societal perception on young women who are looking for ways to promote their reproductive health and be able to negotiate safe sex,.very low prevalence level of male and female condoms and other reproductive health products. Lack of skill and know how on reproductive health counseling on the side of health care providers.

BACKGROUND

Young Adults and Adolescents in Edo State

Demographic background

Statistics from the National Population Commission projected from the 2006 census, indicate that young adults aged 10-24 years, constitute 32.9% of the population of Edo

state. Thus, it is estimated that there are currently about 823,567 young adults in the state. Of these, 410,689 (16.4%) are males, while 412,878 (16.5%) are females, giving a

male: female ratio of nearly 1:1

With close to 90 percent of inhabitants of the state as Christians, marriage in adolescent is less common compared to the northern part of the country with predominantly Muslims. With the unfortunate rise in the cost of marriages orchestrated by

strange societal inclinations towards expensive high society weddings, And the usual norm of conducting traditional and christian wedding by would be couples,sexual experience among unmarried young men and women is becoming more prevalent. As a result of this fact youths especially those in rural communities are greatly exposed to risky sexual behaviours, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

When we started our bi weekly peer education sessions over 80 percent of the young men who attended including those who were married had multiple sex partners. More than 90 percent of unmarried young girls from 21-24 who attended also had multiple sex partners. Although all the young married women who attended the sessions all professed to being faithful to their husbands, some of them said they were aware that their husbands had other sexual partners apart from them. In the course of our interactions and organizing more peer sessions, it was discovered that many of them were not officially married to their husbands but were live in lovers who started to have children in the process.

Among the semi literate and peri urban youths, HIV was not taken seriously. Many said disease nor dey kill African man. While others said that they only use condoms when they are having sex with a lady that is not their permanent girlfriend, but with their permanent girlfriend they do not.

When asked if they knew the girlfriends HIV status he was dumb founded. This was the state of the peri urban and rural youths in Evbuotubu when we started initially. Most of the people who had casual sex did not use condoms and even when they did, they lacked knowledge about the proper insertion of the condoms. And for all of them they saw the female condom for the first time when we showed it to them.

However after the first three months we began to experience some degree of behaviour change.

Here is an excerpt from our March 2010 report:

A man who attended one of our peer session told us that he has multiple sex partner since he was enlightened on female condom he has since been using it the found very pleasurable and that he usually fixed it for his partners.

A respondent at our peer session who told us that he has ten(10) girl-friends and prefer skin to skin(no form of protection) he was educated about HIV/AIDS, STIS. He was later taught how to insert the female condom using the female model and he was also taught how to correctly use the male condom to avoid. It getting burst. Since then he stuck to the female condom saying that it is very good and it is like skin to skin.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Increase number of peers attending peer session from 85 in December to 224 peers as at this month.

2. Increase in acceptance and use of female condom by peers, community members and PPMV stores in Evbuotubu community.(7 cartons was sold in January,10 cartons in February and 13 cartons in March making Thirty (30) cartons of female condom since January 2010.

3.Expansion of fp products and methods in the community by incorporating other FP products in to the IRHIN project through the sales to PPMV and clinics in the community. See break down below.

Another key observation we got from the field was when we mobilized private patent medicine vendors for a training we organized in March 2010 in from okhokhugbo community ( a rural community after Evbuotubu.

1.The first glaring observation was the fact that the more we moved into the interior the fewer Private patent medicine vendors (chemists) we saw. There were even some that did not stock male condom. When we asked why, they claimed it was a temporal stock-out and that they would re stock when next they visit town.

The fact that people in rural communities need to travel several kilometers to get access to PPMVs (chemists) and condoms further exposes them to risky sexual behaviours. As far as rural youths are concerned we have not realized the theme for the World AIDS day for 2010 which was Universal Access to prevention treatment care and support. For them it is highly recommended that they theme for 2010 should continue to run along side future themes until it is realized in all the rural communities in Nigeria and indeed the world.

Also, many communities are still faced with cultural limitations to access which hinders women from accessing the necessary products that would empower them to negotiate for safe sex. In most communities(both urban and rural) women who patronize PPMVs to buy male or female condoms are stigmatized and seen as ashewo (prostitutes). This situation coupled with the absence of youth friendly sexual and reproductive health centres has increased the level of risky sexual behaviours among youths in both urban, per urban and rural communities. Young married women due to their poor financial status, also find it difficult to negotiate for safe sex even when they know that their husbands have multiple sex partners.

Although we recorded a lot of cases of women who were able to use the female condom with their husbands, we however observed that the success was due to curiosity and where it was clear that the woman was aware that her husband had other sex partners and as such wanted to protect herself from sexually transmitted infections,The women who succeeded were mostly women who had economic power.

Thus we see that poverty is another factor that exposes young people to unsafe sex.

Some Myths and misconceptions:1. That salt water can prevent pregnancy, That eritromycin and ampiclox prevents pregnancy. Some said they drink Krest bitter lemon immediately after sex. Some said that the ring (charm) they put on helps them to prevent pregnancy.

These were from direct interview from people in Evbuotubu community. A peri urban community in Benin City. If people in Benin City hold this views about sex,one can only imagine how it would look like in rural communities.

Approach/Sources of Data and information

Baseline surveys, direct administering of interviews and questionnaires to discover myths and misconceptions,special behaviour change communication peer education sessions,Inter personal communication sessions, mapping of the communities,assessment of male and female condoms , and other reproductive health products prevalence level , current sexual behaviours among rural and peri urban youths ,Project Monthly reports,

Problem solving techniques/skills deployed and success stories recorded.

Breaking the silence/communication barriers. Our Strategy and success stories, Winning the support of community heads, and gate keepers, communicating effectively to the youths . Developing and building the capacity of health care providers for more effective work. In the implementation of Improving Reproductive Health in Nigeria (IRHIN) Project.From October 2009- october 2010.

Conclusion/Results:

We can achieve the right sexual behavioural for rural and peri urban youths with consistent and competent peer education and training of PPMVs and health care providers in the community to be more youth friendly and sensitive, strong committed and highly knowledgeable leadership and team that is on ground to provide regular psycho social support and encouragement. Need for greater commitment on the side of government to promote the sexual health of youths especially rural and peri urban youths. By ensuring that their sexual and reproductive health needs are catered for in government health centres and also by establishing youth friendly sexual and reproductive health centres. There is also the need for government, community leaders, parents and NGOs to work to win the friendship and trust of youths in order to break the silence. For the friendly and down to earth approach which we employed greatly contributed towards the successes we recorded.

In my final words I would like to say that for us to increase our chances of victory in the fight against HIV and all other STIs,the change from risky sexual behaviour to the right behaviour by urban, peri urban and rural youths is imperative and possible.

Thank you very much.

2011 International Women's Day Advocacy Paper

MARCH 8TH 2011 MARKS 100 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY .

ADVOCACY PAPER BY SAM AJUFOH

ACTION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

email:actionforcd@yahoo.com

Phone:08033479893

TITLE:100 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, A CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY IN 2011.

Nigeria currently has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world. Thus a genuine and sincere way of commemorating 100 years of international women's day in Nigeria, is for government to work to ensure the reduction of maternal mortality; being one of the eight millennium development goals in Nigeria in 2011.

From the experiences on the field from the project we implemented from October 2009 to October 2010: Improving Reproductive Health in Nigeria (IRHIN Project) in partnership with Society For Family Health (SFH) we make the following recommendations to ensure the reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria in 2011.

1.For Primary Health Care Centres to be better equipped and strengthened to provide more (all) family planning products and services.In order to reduce the rate of un intended pregnancies that increases the risk of maternal mortality.

2.For the Federal and state ministries of health to work with the Society for Family Health (SFH) to end stock outs of family planning products currently experienced and ensure the regular supply of family planning products in primary health care centres.

3.For training and retraining of health care providers on family planning and family planning counseling.

4.For Primary Health Care Centres to be Strengthened for effective family planning data collection, collation and analysis.

5.For the provision of adequate qualified personnel, equipments, materials and job aids for family planning, maternal health and safe delivery In community health centres.

6.There should be improved linkages between the federal, state ministries of health and primary health care centres.

7.The Federal, State and local governments should increase the funding of the health sector for improved service delivery.

8.For the training of Private Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs),Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs)

and Civil Society Organizations and their integration into the national, state and and local government family planning and maternal health services delivery system.

Activities For International Women's Day 2011

The first Activity was a lecture on the 7th of March to sensitize senior secondary school girls of Franej International High School Benin City on the 2011 International Women's Day.

Below is the lecture

LECTURE ON 2011 IWD BY AMANDA AJUFOH ACTION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

We are here to speak to you about the International Women's Day.

What is the international women's day?

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. It is also a platform where women highlight their challenges and call for positive changes. As we speak,70% of the world's poor are women.1 out of every 3 women is a survivor of violence against women . 2/3 of 110 million children not in school are girls

Theme for 2011 International Women's Day is "equal access to education, training and technology”

For there to be equal access to education, training and technology two things must be done.

1.There must be enabling laws and policies that will promote equal access.

2.Women must rise to bridge the gender gap (the gap between men and women as it pertains to education training and technology)

First with respect to the first which has to do with enabling laws,The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requires that countries party to the Convention take all appropriate steps to end violence. Till this very minute the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to domesticate the CEDAW document.

Globally, up to six out of every ten women experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. A World Health Organization study of 24,000 women in 10 countries found that the prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner varied from 15 percent in urban Japan to 71 percent in rural Ethiopia, with most areas being in the 30–60 percent range.

Violence against women and girls has far-reaching consequences, harming families and communities. For women and girls 16–44 years old, violence is a major cause of death and disability. In 1994, a World Bank study on ten selected risk factors facing girls and women in this age group, found rape and domestic violence more dangerous than cancer, motor vehicle accidents, war and malaria. Studies also reveal increasing links between violence against women and HIV and AIDS. A survey among 1,366 South African women showed that women who were beaten by their partners were 48 percent more likely to be infected with HIV than those who were not.

Girls and women in Nigeria must unite to ensure that enabling laws for gender equality and safety of girls and women are promulgated. So that by the time girls become women, the nation would be safer for them than it is now.

Girls and women must also rise to bridge the gender gap in the area of Education.

In universities in Nigeria, the percentage of girls studying courses like engineering, medicine, architecture, and other core science subjects is less than 30%. And these are professions with high pay. Thus for there to be equal access to education in these courses we challenge the girls in Franej and Nigeria in general to begin to excel in the sciences and go into Nigerian Universities to study these courses.

Also in the area of information and communication technology (computer) there is a serious gender digital divide. 90% of highly skilled IT professionals are men. Areas like computer animation, system automation, computer engineering, programming, data base administration e.t.c continue to be monopolized by men. Girls and young women should take up the challenge to go into these areas and excel. For indeed what a man can do a woman can do better. Great women like Professor Dora Akunyili, Professor Alele Williams, Dr Mrs Ejiks Uzu have proven beyond reasonable doubts that women can rise to the pinnacle of their chosen career. All that is required is Hardwork and commitment to excellence. Thank you very much.