The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) recently led the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, advocating strongly for enhanced policies and supportive programs aimed at expanding healthcare access for adolescent girls and young women. The event, held at Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku, Ubo, Offot, Uyo, focused on the theme, “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontline of crisis,” emphasizing the urgent need to protect girls from HIV, celebrate their achievements, and broaden their opportunities for health and development.

A central pillar of AHF's appeal was the call for increased investment in prevention, testing, and treatment programs for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), alongside the provision of comprehensive sexuality education. Dr. Echey Ijezie, the Nigeria Country Programmes Director of AHF, highlighted alarming statistics, revealing that over 4,000 young women aged 15-24 are infected with HIV weekly, with more than 3,300 of these cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. He lamented the persistent challenges faced by young girls, including poor menstrual health and limited access to vital reproductive health services.

Dr. Ijezie therefore urged immediate action to combat period poverty, promote comprehensive sexuality education, and eradicate gender-based violence and child marriage, which he identified as significant drivers of health inequality. He reiterated that the International Day of the Girl, observed annually on October 11, serves as a crucial platform to amplify girls' voices and advocate for policies that safeguard their health and futures. Through its “Girls Act” program, AHF is actively empowering girls and young women in nearly 40 countries, providing them with essential knowledge, support, and resources to stay free from HIV and other STIs, adhere to HIV treatment, remain in school, and prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Hon. Inibehe Silas Etukudo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, delivered a keynote address, acknowledging the resilience of girls in the state despite the numerous challenges they face. She affirmed that girls are consistently breaking barriers in all their endeavors, demonstrating their capacity to shape solutions rather than being defined by crises. The Commissioner pledged the state's commitment to creating opportunities where girls’ voices and ideas would be heard, their leadership nurtured, and their potentials fully unleashed. She also disclosed the state's efforts to secure funding and establish programs designed to empower girls, ranging from scholarships to health initiatives.

Commissioner Etukudo underscored the indispensable role of education, stating, “Education remains the cornerstone of this vision. Every girl in Akwa Ibom deserves access to quality education, free from obstacles like poverty or early marriage.” She further stressed the importance of prioritizing girls’ health by ensuring access to menstrual hygiene resources and mental health support, enabling them to flourish. She concluded by emphasizing the need to protect girls from gender-based violence and discrimination, striving to create an environment where every girl feels safe to reach her full potential.

Dr. Ekemini Essien, the State Coordinator of AHF, observed that girls globally are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and frequently endure abuse with fewer opportunities compared to their male counterparts. He called for urgent intervention from authorities to address these disparities by empowering girls with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to excel. Essien encouraged the attending girls to cultivate resilience and focus on securing a prosperous future.

Jessica Charles, AHF’s Linkage Coordinator in the state, further elaborated on the necessity of girl-child empowerment, defining it not just economically but also as access to accurate information, healthcare, education, and the autonomy to make decisions. She powerfully charged the girls to always stand tall and speak up against any form of abuse, admonishing, “This is not the time when you should be shy about how you feel about your reproductive health. Speak up against any abuse. I know a lot of girls are abused, and their parents are covering up, please speak up, because there will always be somebody out there who wants to champion your cause.”

Rhoda Vincent, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State Children’s Parliament and a participant at the event, expressed gratitude to AHF for its dedication to the girl child and for empowering them, particularly in areas of Sexual Health Rights and gender equality. Vincent reminded her peers of their significant role as change-makers and world-movers, urging them to remain focused and dedicated, and crucially, to take their menstrual hygiene seriously. A significant highlight of the occasion was the practical distribution of disposable and reusable sanitary pads, toiletries, and an informative session on menstrual hygiene, reinforcing the comprehensive approach to girl-child well-being.