IWD: AHF Nigeria Calls for Action to Give Opportunities, Support to Women, Young Girls

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

As the world marks the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has called for action to give women and young girls the opportunities and support they deserve.

AHF Nigeria Country Program Director (CPD), Dr. Echey Ijezie, I a statement signed by the Marketing and advocacy Manager, Steve Aborishade, said the organization stands in solidarity with women and girls worldwide, celebrating their achievements while championing action to break down barriers to health, equality, and opportunity.

He stated that AHF Nigeria joins the global movement to demand an end to the inequities that hold women and girls back with an IWD commemoration on March 9, across all AHF Nigeria states including Abuja-FCT, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross Rive, Kogi and Nasarawa state.

He stated that when women thrive, “we all rise. Despite decades of progress, women and girls remain disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they account for more than 60% of new HIV infections. Globally, gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, reproductive rights restrictions, income inequality, and limited educational opportunities further entrench disparities.

xAccess to affordable menstrual health products and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education also remain out of reach for millions, compromising dignity, mobility, and oppotunity.

He remind everyone; leaders, policymakers, and communities, that when individuals, organizations and communities give women and young girls the opportunities and support they deserve the whole community thrives.

For IWD 2026, AHF Nigeria will host a ‘Continuous Medical Education (CME)’ for health workers in the over 156 healthcare facilities where AHF provides services across the seven states of operations in Nigeria; on the gendered coloration of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and how best to help women, particularly the majority of women living in rural communities, to navigate and improve their wellbeing and livelihood.

Ijezie said “AHF Nigeria places enormous value on women and girls in the society, and it is the reason why our programs are anchored around impacting women and young girls.

“We will continue to prioritize issues that affects women as we call on everyone; leaders, policymakers, and communities, to turn their commitments into action to accelerate development for women and young girls.”

He pledged that AHF will continue to prioritize women and girls by advocating for policies that protect and uplift them worldwide, from distributing free menstrual products and combating gender-based violence to expanding access to HIV/AIDS services, to ensure every woman and girl can lead a healthy, empowered life.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.8 million people in 50 countries worldwide in Africa, the Americas, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Europe.