PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Ambassador Presents Equipment to People Living with HIV/AIDS at Defense Health Club, Mogadishu Cantonment

Date: February 17, 2009
Venue: Abuja, Mogadishu Cantonment

Ambassador Robin Sanders presenting one of the donated equipment to the Honorable Minister of State for Defense, Mr. Ademola Seriki | High Resolution Photo

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renée Sanders, today presented equipment purchased by the people and government of the United States to Mogadishu Cantonment’s Defense Health Club, a support group for People Living with HIV/AIDS.  The donated equipment, which includes sewing and knitting machines, will enable members of the support group to learn new skills and generate income. 

The donation is just one part of the support provided to Nigerians under the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, also known as PEPFAR, as Ambassador Sander's highlighted in her remarks: "As we celebrate our two-week activities to underscore the U.S.-Nigeria partnership, we are also proud to celebrate the fact that our close partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Defense has increased access to HIV/AIDS services for thousands of Nigerians, both military and civilian.  Over the past three years and in partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Defense, the U.S. Government's Department of Defense HIV Program has provided over $33 million dollars to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria as part of PEPFAR."

Support group members welcomed the assistance of the U.G. Government.  With the new equipment and furniture, the group looks forward to becoming self-sustaining through income generation activities so that it can help to establish other area HIV/AIDS support groups.  Said one member of the group: “I am very excited to be able to learn sewing and knitting skills so that I can provide for my children.  I have faced discrimination when trying to get work, but now I can earn money for myself.” 

The U.S. Department of Defense – Nigerian Ministry of Defense HIV Program provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services at 14 sites across Nigeria.  Through PEPFAR, HIV/AIDS services are provided free of charge to military personnel and civilians in the following locations: Abuja, Jos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Makurdi, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Maiduguri.  Mo0re information on the U.S. Government’s PEPFAR Program is available at http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/pepfar.html